SMOKING BANS IN MALAYSIA FACE YET ANOTHER DELAY

Mon 12 June 2023:

A proposed nationwide ban on cigarettes and vaping in Malaysia, beginning with the current generation of teenagers, has been postponed once more, Anadolu Agency reported.

The country’s health minister, Zaliha Mustafa, announced on Monday that the law, which would prohibit the use, purchase, and sale of cigarettes and vaping products to individuals born after 2007, has been forwarded to a parliamentary committee for further consideration.

The bill, called the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023, also known as the Generational Endgame Bill, was introduced last year but was referred to the committee a second time today.

Mustafa said the bill needs further review, news website Free Malaysia Today reported.

Dr. R. Arasu, secretary general of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), said he was disappointed with the delay.

“It’s crucial to protect our future generations. Quit playing politics and prioritize public health,” he said on Twitter.

“Let’s stand together in demanding the immediate passage of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill. Protect our youths, prioritize health,” the medical association said on social media.

Strong support from health groups

The smoking of tobacco and tobacco products is linked to the development of many chronic or non-communicable diseases, including heart disease, cancer and chronic lung disease.

In Malaysia, smoking is estimated to kill around 20,000 people annually, with many more affected due to disease complications.

The Ministry of Health has previously said that 22 per cent of all cancer-related deaths in the country are related to tobacco.

Unsurprisingly, the Bill received huge support from health advocacy groups, with 43 associations led by the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) saying that the law is a breath of fresh air to solve the social, health and economic problems caused by smoking.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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