Khairy critical over Zaliha’s silence on smoking-cancer dispute

JOHOR BARU: Former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin is disappointed with his successor Dr Zaliha Mustafa over her silence following the remarks made by Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing who questioned the link between smoking and cancer.

He said it was disheartening that Dr Zaliha has not come out to correct Tiong, who is the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister, over the remarks.

“I think it is absolutely embarrassing and shameful that there is a Minister in 2023 in Malaysia who questions the link between cigarette smoking and cancer.

“I also find it extremely disheartening and appalling that the Health Minister, who is tasked with looking after public health in this country, has not come out to correct her colleague,” he said.

Khairy said this to reporters when met after flagging off the Johor Women’s League (Jewel) Butterfly Walk in conjunction with the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence at the Tunku Mahkota Ismail Youth Centre here yesterday.

“The reason I am so angry is because this is not just an assault on science and medical facts; this is an attack on public health, and the Health Minister is just completely helpless,” he said.

He added that he was also puzzled over the sudden change in stance by the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) regarding the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023.

The Bill, dubbed the Generational Endgame (GEG), is being proposed to end generational smoking for those born in 2007 and after.

In several Instagram posts on Thursday, Khairy questioned Tiong’s competence and claimed that the Cabinet member reflected poorly on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

This came after Tiong, in a Facebook post earlier on Thursday, accused Khairy of being the worst health minister ever and urged people to stop blaming current ministers for the failure to pass the GEG Bill, which was Khairy’s brainchild.

Tiong claimed that Khairy had failed to provide definitive proof that smoking was linked to cancer during the latter’s time in office, which made the Bill both “unconstitutional” and “unenforceable”.

Dr Zaliha had said the Bill would be tabled for its second reading in Parliament on Oct 10 after receiving the nod from the Cabinet on Oct 4 to proceed with the proposed law.

However, the second reading has since been postponed to make way for government affairs in Parliament.