GEG supporters: MPs who don't back bill are promoting addiction
For supporters of the "Generational End Game" (GEG) bill to ban smoking for those from 2007 and beyond, MPs have only one choice - to support it when it comes to a vote.
This is amid criticism and scrutiny over the bill on how the government plans to enforce the ban.
For supporters of the "Generational End Game" (GEG) bill to ban smoking for those from 2007 and beyond, MPs have only one choice - to support it when it comes to a vote.
This is amid criticism and scrutiny over the bill on how the government plans to enforce the ban.
For National Cancer Society (NCSM) president Dr M Murallitaharan, MPs who don't back the bill will be responsible for creating future tobacco addicts.
"By not voting for the bill, you are the one who is promoting our next generation to become addicts. You have to answer for that. If you don't vote for the bill, we will hold you responsible," he told reporters outside the Parliament gates this morning.
The NCSM was among several groups who handed a memorandum supporting the GEG bill to MPs at Parliament today.
Those who received the memorandum were Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii, and Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
The GEG bill will ban those born on or after Jan 1, 2007, from smoking or possessing all tobacco products - including vaping.
It also grants police a broad range of powers to enter any premises and carry out searches without warrants to enforce the ban.
Critics have questioned why police need so much power and expressed concerns about possible abuse of power and enforcement overreach.
They have also expressed concerns that youths caught with tobacco products would be charged with criminal offences.
Khairy has assured that offenders would be fined a maximum RM50 and would not be jailed or have a criminal record.
Speaking to reporters today, Syed Saddiq said that the bill should focus on distributors and suppliers instead of criminalising possession.
He said the bill needs further refinement and should not be bulldozed.
"My suggestion is for the minister to send the bill back to the Parliament Select Committee to refine and retable at the next sitting.
"If we rush the bill when there are so many loopholes which could be exploited to abuse, I think that would do more harm than benefit for Malaysians," he said.
The concerns expressed by the Muar MP and other critics were outlined in a separate memorandum against the GEG bill, which was handed over to Syed Saddiq and Yii by a smaller group later.
MPs have criticised the short amount of time they have been given to deliberate the bill - which was only presented to them last week and is expected to be debated today and tomorrow.
There are also concerns that the ban will lead to an increase in black market tobacco products with insufficient enforcement to deal with it.
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