Smoking endgame bill to be tabled in Dewan Rakyat

The health  ministry is scheduled to table the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 for a first reading in the Dewan Rakyat today.

According to the order paper on the official Parliament website, the bill will be tabled by Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa after the question-and-answer session.

On May 26, Zaliha was quoted as saying that it was a success for the ministry to finally obtain the support of the Cabinet to table the bill.

At a media briefing on June 6, she was reported to have said that the ministry had incorporated all 23 proposed amendments and added five new suggestions to the bill, making it more comprehensive as it would cover not only conventional smoking products but also new ones, including electronic and combustible designs.

However, she said the bill would still retain the generational endgame or GEG provision affecting those born on Jan 1, 2007 onwards.

The GEG provision would curb the problem of smoking, especially among the youth, which is the main contributor to the country’s economy, and save 2.07 million lives, she said.

Also scheduled to be tabled for a first reading today is the Capital Markets and Services (Amendment) Bill 2023.

During the question-and-answer session, meanwhile, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PH-Bandar Tun Razak) will ask the education minister about the measures taken to deal with the issue of bullying, especially among secondary school students, and their effectiveness.

Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (PH-Balik Pulau) will ask the health minister about measures to promote health literacy among the people.

Wan Razali Wan Nor (PN-Kuantan) meanwhile will ask if the national unity ministry is involved in the process of monitoring and editing dramas and films to ensure that the values of harmony are portrayed and sensitive issues involving racial and religious matters are not touched on. 

The Dewan Rakyat sitting will end this Thursday.