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GEG gambit on the rocks
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Key Highlights
GEG gambit on the rocks
First anti-hopping law legal challenge fails
Sedition for boycotting?
GEG gambit on the rocks
The generational end-game (GEG) gambit to end smoking appears at risk of being snuffed out itself.
Former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin - who initiated the gambit - accused several ministers of blocking the legislation.
Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing - who was among those targeted by Khairy - indicated that the GEG was “unconstitutional and unenforceable”.
Previously, a source in the Health Ministry told Malaysiakini that the tobacco lobbyists were also exerting pressure on the government to torpedo the GEG.
The GEG is a key part of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill - a long-delayed piece of legislation which is also supposed to reimpose restrictions on the sale of nicotine to children.
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First anti-hopping law legal challenge fails
The first legal challenge to enforce the anti-hopping law as per the Federal Constitution, has failed.
Bersatu had initiated a challenge to disqualify four former Bersatu MPs from Sabah - who defected after GE15 by claiming that they had contested as members of GRS instead.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court declined to hear the merits of the case, citing separation of powers.
This is as Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul had already ruled that the Sabah four did not violate the anti-hopping act.
Bersatu is expected to appeal the decision.
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Sedition for boycotting?
Boycotts are a heated subject, with some very vocal people on each side.
However, McDonald’s - who is a major target of boycotters - appears to be looking at an offensive defence strategy behind the scenes to safeguard its reputation.
A top executive for McDonald’s Malaysia had in a now-deleted Facebook post, claimed that 60 people would be charged for sedition for spreading slander.
It is unclear what the nature of the purportedly slanderous comments were, and whether it was against regular calls for boycotts or those who used misinformation to further this cause.
Police - who have sole jurisdiction to initiate sedition probes - said they have not received any police reports from McDonald’s.
Instead, reports appear to have only been filed with the MCMC.
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Views that matter
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 | By R Nadeswaran |
 | Yoursay |
Other news that matter
Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar has been named as the Perikatan Nasional candidate for the Kemaman by-election, ahead of the nomination day on Saturday.
He will be pitted against BN’s Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor, who is the former chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces.
PAS wants a big turnout for its Nov 20 protest at the Palace of Justice, against a legal bid to nullify 20 Kelantan syariah criminal offences.
The lawyer who initiated the suit, Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid said while PAS had a right to protest, they shouldn’t twist the facts surrounding the case.
She denied challenging God, only the Kelantan state government and legislature.
Former 1MDB executive Jasmine Loo reportedly told police that she had met Jho Low in China in 2019, according to a police witness testifying in Najib Abdul Razak’s 1MDB corruption case.
The Federal Court has dismissed BN’s appeal to nullify PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s victory in Marang during the 15th general election.
Community Communications Department director-general Mohammad Agus Yusoff has resigned.
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