THE Generational End Game (GEG) Bill, which seeks to put an end to all forms of tobacco smoking in the future, is off the table, at least for now.
However, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has appealed to MPs to support the Bill when it is retabled in the Dewan Rakyat.
The Bill did not come up for debate yesterday due to time constraints and with Budget 2023 to be tabled today, the GEG is not likely to see the light of day at this Dewan Rakyat meeting.
The meeting itself may not last long as there is talk of dissolution of Parliament.
“Based on the consensus achieved by MPs from both sides in Special Parliamentary Select Committee (SPSC), it is hoped other MPs will give their support to the Bill when debates resume in the interest of public health and the nation,” he said in a media statement.
He noted that the SPSC had recommended 23 changes to the Bill and submitted its report to the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday.
Among the recommendations was the removal of the proposed clause to make it an offence for those born after Jan 1, 2007 to be in possession of cigarettes or related tobacco products.
It would still be an offence if the youths are caught smoking or vaping. However, offenders penalised under the proposed law would not have a criminal record.
The committee also recommended lowering the fine from RM5,000 to RM500 with the law to be enforced after three years of advocacy and awareness.
The bipartisan SPSC was set up on Aug 2 to further scrutinise the proposed Tobacco and Smoking Control Bill (GEG) which was tabled by Khairy in the Dewan Rakyat on July 27.
The Bill sought to ban the use, possession and sale of cigarettes and vape products to those born after 2007.
However, no vote was taken on the Bill during the second reading on Aug 2 with a motion passed instead to refer the matter to a bipartisan SPSC.
This was done following resistance on certain aspects of the proposed law.
Khairy previously indicated that the Bill may not pass through both Houses at this meeting if Parliament is dissolved.
The Dewan Rakyat meeting is scheduled to end on Nov 29 while the Dewan Negara will meet between Nov 21 until Dec 7.
