LETTERS: THE health minister wants to end tobacco consumption by preventing adults born after 2006 from buying, selling or possessing tobacco or vaping products
This would make Malaysia the first in the world to enact tobacco generational endgame (GEG) legislation.
The minister may have forgotten that a person can vote, enter into a contract, and marry when he is 18. He can join the military at 18 and die for his country.
But if the minister has his way, these individuals will not be allowed the choice to smoke or vape.
Since 2004, the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations prohibit anyone from selling tobacco products to children.
Yet, 78.7 per cent of smokers tried their first cigarette before they were 14!
So the government should first act against those selling tobacco products to children.
It is also pertinent to refer to Article 8 of the Federal Constitution: Every person shall be equal under the law and have equal protection of the law. The proposed GEG law discriminates against adults based on birthdates.
Please give this proposed ban a lot of thought.
For free choice
Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times