KUALA LUMPUR – A remark by Khalid Abdul Samad (Shah Alam-PH) in Parliament today drew cackles among his lower House peers after he said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin looked like he used to “smoke”.
Khairy (Rembau-BN) himself looked amused, but nonetheless requested that the Amanah lawmaker retract his statement, to which the latter obliged.
The exchange started when Khalid was sharing his views on the government’s plan to outlaw smoking for those born in 2007 onwards, during Khairy’s winding-up speech on the Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill 2022.
Khalid said while he principally agrees with the law, he disputed Khairy’s earlier claim that smoking is addictive to the point that smokers will not be able to stop once they start.
He argued that many continue to consume tobacco products of their own accord, while recalling how he had himself stopped smoking twice in the past.
“I used to smoke in school, from Form 3 until I entered university in the United Kingdom, then I stopped. When I came back to Malaysia and worked with Petronas, I started again. After a few years, I stopped again.
“This means it’s a choice. Although it’s addictive, if the minister was to ask smokers today, they would say they are the ones who choose (to continue) to smoke. Not because of addiction, like drugs.
“We must not exaggerate the extent of addiction. Whether it is smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes, it’s their choice. I can support this bill, but we don’t have to (force) others (to stop smoking).”
Khalid said this is why policies to control smoking, including banning consumption in certain public areas, are introduced.
“I don’t know if you used to be a smoker, Rembau (Khairy). You look like one, with all due respect,” he said, as MPs from both sides burst into laughter.
A grinning Khairy then responded, saying: “Please retract your statement. That’s a malicious assumption. I don’t know what he means by ‘I look like one’.”
In response, Khalid said Khairy looked like he is the “nakal” (mischievous) type, before going on to retract his remark.
The bill was later referred to a parliamentary special select committee, which will be chaired by Khairy, to iron out its implementation. – The Vibes, August 2, 2022
