PETALING JAYA: Members of Parliament from all sides have been urged to support the government’s plan to ban smoking and vaping for those born after 2005.
The Health Ministry's proposed ‘Generational End Game’ (GEG), according to the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) will ensure a future of healthier Malaysians who are free of diseases related to smoking and vaping.
“MMA gives its full support to the GEG bill which seeks to stop the sale of tobacco, ecigarettes and vape products to those born in 2005 and onwards.
“Having seen the health and economic ravages that such products have caused to countless people across the world and not least in Malaysia, we say ‘no more’ to the continued destruction caused to users of such products and their families.
“We call on all MPs to give their full support to the GEG Bill which will be tabled in Parliament soon.
“To all parents, protect your children against the harmful effects of smoking and vaping by voicing your support for GEG to the MPs representing your locality,” said MMA president Dr Koh Kar Chai in a statement.
Dr Koh said treatment for diseases caused by smoking was expensive and the GEG would help to reduce healthcare spending in the future.
“As taxpayers, we will see the benefit when hospital admissions for heart disease, stroke, various cancers and respiratory illnesses are reduced.
“If taxpayer money is spent wisely on prevention such as through this initiative, we stand to save significantly on treatments in our healthcare spending,” he said.
Dr Koh also disagreed with the usage of ecigarettes and vape to help people stop smoking, as the products also contain harmful effects.
“Whilst claiming to be less harmful than tobacco, we have seen that ecigarettes and vaping products are by themselves harmful to health as well.
“Knowing the difficulties in trying to kick the habit, cutting off such supplies from the young will also remove the effort needed to wean them off the habit later on when the realisation sets in that the harmful effects from such products are starting to creep into their lives,” he said.
“Like the tobacco industry, those involved in the business of ecigarettes and vaping will also attempt to protect their interests as it involves large sums of capital and profit.
“Instead of stopping the industry altogether, GEG will allow those involved time to remodel their business to avoid a catastrophic loss to their investment,” said Dr Koh.
Under the proposed Tobacco and Smoking Control law, children born on Jan 1, 2005, and onwards would be banned from buying cigarettes or vaping products even after reaching the legal smoking age of 18.
