GEG bill to be tabled for first reading on June 12

KUALA LUMPUR: The anti-smoking bill dubbed as the Generational Endgame (GEG) will be tabled for the first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on June 12 (Monday), says Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa (pic).

"We have gotten the date for the first reading," she said during a media briefing on the Control of Smoking Product for Public Health Bill 2023 in Parliament on Tuesday (June 6).

However, Dr Zaliha said the date for the second reading would depend on the dates provided by the House.

The Bill was given the greenlight by the Cabinet on May 26.

Dr Zaliha said the ministry was taking a non-punitive approach with the Bill aimed to eradicate smoking among children born in 2007 and the subsequent years.

Children born in 2007 and subsequent years would be prohibited from smoking, buying or possessing any type of smoking product, including electronic cigarettes or vape products, even after reaching the age of 18.

Under the revised Bill, the enforcement in relation to the registration, advertising, packaging, sale and use of conventional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigar, loose tobacco and rolled cigarettes would come into effect for the GEG generation once the Bill was passed.

Meanwhile, the enforcement of the sale and use of products which uses smoking devices such as vape, tobacco and other non-tobacco products such as tea cigarettes—for the GEG generation would come into force on a later date.

The 2023 Bill would maintain the standard fines at RM500 and would involve community service instead of a prison sentence.

The previous bill which was tabled by then Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin last year, was referred to the Special Parliamentary Select Committee (SPSC).