Health expert slams big tobacco lobbyists at Parliament ahead of anti-smoking bill

A medical specialist has slammed the presence of officials from tobacco companies at Parliament today, the same day that the health ministry tabled a historic bill to weed out smoking from a young age.

Dr Helmy Haja Mydin also warned MPs not to be swayed in the fight to ensure zero smoking for Malaysia's future generation.

"If you’re a politician who is championing transparency in political funding, then have the integrity to declare any conflict of interest when it comes to dealing with the tobacco industry. 

"No double standards," he said in a series of posts on Twitter.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin tabled the Tobacco and Smoking Control Bill, also known as the tobacco generational endgame (GEG) law, in the Dewan Rakyat today. 

If passed, it will prohibit smoking and the possession of tobacco and vape products for those born after 2007. 

Khairy previously said that the suggested implementation of the GEG provision in the bill was to protect those born after 2005 from becoming involved in smoking habits and addiction, and to reduce the percentage of smokers in Malaysia to less than 5% by 2040.

The cut-off year of birth was later amended to 2007.