KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has agreed to make several changes to the Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill 2022 ahead of its second reading in Parliament.
Khairy tweeted this after meeting the Parliamentary Select Committee on Women, Children and Social Development and Kuching MP Kelvin Yii, who chairs the select committee on Health, Science and Innovation.
Calling the meetings productive, he said he had agreed to amend certain provisions in the spirit of bipartisanship.
The changes include the reduction of standard fines for the Generational End Game (GEG) in the Act from RM5,000 to RM500.
Aside from that, community service will be added as an option in lieu of a fine as mandated by court.
No body searches will be conducted on anyone aged below 18.
"No punishment for possession for all GEG-related offences," he said.
The proposed law, which was tabled for its first reading by Khairy, not only makes smoking an offence for youths, but also for possession of cigarettes and tobacco-related products.
Youths born on Jan 1, 2007, and after caught smoking or puffing on vapes or e-cigarettes will be fined.
