Debate on Anti-smoking Bill resumes in Parliament before vote

KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat resumes debating on the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health 2023 Bill.

Dr Kelvin Yii (PH-Kuching) was called by the Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul to continue the debate session of the Bill which started on Wednesday (Nov 29).

Johari gave Dr Kelvin five minutes to debate on the Bill before asking Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa to present her winding-up speech ahead of putting the Bill up for a vote in the Lower House.

The Bill, among others, seeks to ban the sale and purchase of tobacco products, smoking materials, tobacco substitute products, or the provision of any service for smoking to minors.

On Wednesday, Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor who stopped the debate session of the Bill said the sitting must reconvene on Thursday, following a previous motion made to end the Lower House daily session at 8pm.

"The minister will answer tomorrow (Nov 30). I will end the session today sharp at 8pm," he said on Wednesday after Dr Muhammad Taufiq Johari (PH-Sungai Petani) presented his debate on the Bill.

The Bill was debated by 26 MPs on Wednesday with a majority expressing disappointment on the removal of the generational endgame (GEG) provision being withdrawn from the Bill, claiming pressure from lobbyists from the tobacco industry.