LABELLING the government as 'cowardly and irresponsible' former health minister, Khariy Jamaluddin said he was aware from the start how the ‘Big Tobacco’ lobby had influenced ministers and MPs.
According to reports in The Star, Khairy said he has finally been proven right.
"I knew all along about the lobbying but had still tried to implement the Generational Endgame (GEG).
"I feel vindicated after Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni confirmed in Parliament that the tobacco and vape industries were behind the snuffing out of the GEG," he said.
Khairy said he is happy that Lukanisman was honest enough to admit that Big Tobacco had penetrated the government, the cabinet and MPs.
"Malaysia is a signatory to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Framework Convention of Tobacco Control which disallows tobacco lobbyists from influencing national policies.
“You are not supposed to allow Big Tobacco to influence policy decisions.
“I am saddened that this happened during this government’s time,” he was quoted as saying by The Star.
He chided the government for being irresponsible and not thinking of the future generations.
"They were also cowardly because they caved into whatever reasons Big Tobacco gave them," Khairy said, adding that the least the government could do is rectify existing regulations on tobacco sales.
He also urged for tighter regulations concerning vape sales, saying the items are being sold rampantly to minors who find them attractive due to various flavours like strawberry and raspberry.
The government had dropped the GEG provisions, which would have banned tobacco and vape products for anyone born from 2007 onwards, from the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 when it was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat for first reading on November 28 last year.
The revised bill, which was tabled by then Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa dropped the GEG element which had aimed to prohibit the sale and use of cigarette products, including electronic cigarettes, based on age.
The first version of the bill was tabled by Khairy himself, when he had occupied the ministerial position immediately preceding Zaliha, in June 2022.
It was then re-tabled in June after the formation of the Unity Government, following the general election in November that year.
Zaliha retracted the version of the anti-smoking bill that Khairy had tabled.
The new version of the bill prohibits the sale of tobacco products, smoking substances or substitute tobacco products or providing any services for smoking to a minor.
Clause 17(1) of the bill prohibits minors from smoking, chewing or using any tobacco product or smoking any substitute tobacco product.
The bill was then passed by both houses of Parliament and gazetted as the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852).
The Star also reported former health ministry official and public health expert Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar as describing Lukanisman’s revelation as shocking.
“The truth has finally come out. There have been the rumours that were discussed among anti-tobacco groups,” he said.
“This shouldn’t happen if the government cares about the health of current and future generations.”
Malaysian Medical Association president Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz said the government now owes the people an explanation for the revelation.
“It looks like the truth is finally out, and it's very disappointing to hear about the kind of influence Big Tobacco and the vape industry has on such an important public health bill," she said. – The Vibes, March 15, 2024
