KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has sent a letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob reiterating calls for the proposed Generational Endgame (GEG) tobacco bill to be brought before a parliamentary select committee (PSC).
Anwar said he had sent the letter to Ismail Sabri yesterday evening, as well as a motion to the Dewan Rakyat speaker in line with Regulation 54(1) and 54(2) of the Standing Orders.
The PKR president also shared on Facebook screenshots of the letter to the prime minister in making the call for the bill to be discussed by the committee.
“After holding a series of discussions with Dewan Rakyat members from the opposition bloc, I have found that they have supported it (the bill) in principle,” Anwar said.
“However, I also found that many opposition members had raised concerns on the rights stipulated under the federal constitution, as well as the enforcement issues related to the impending act.
Anwar, who is also Port Dickson MP, said the committee would receive and address concerns related to the constitutionality and enforcement of the proposed law, apart from the implementation of tobacco and smoking controls.
He also suggested that the committee prepares a statement that contains relevant proposals within one month, with possible extensions to the duration, if needed.
“The membership of the proposed parliamentary select committee should consist of Dewan Rakyat members from all parties, and be led by the health minister.”
Earlier yesterday, Bakri MP Yeo Bee Yin called for further deliberations with stakeholders regarding the bill.
In a statement, Yeo said she hoped the bill would be sent to the parliamentary select committees on health, science and innovation, women, children and social development; and fundamental liberty and constitutional rights.
Yeo, a former minister, noted that the proposed legislation has powers that are too wide-ranging for enforcement officers, compared with a similar bill in the New Zealand Parliament.
She highlighted the differences between both bills and questioned why Malaysia’s version gives so much power to law enforcement.
New Zealand enforcement officers only have the power to enter non-residential premises for investigation, while other enforcement actions require a warrant, Yeo noted.
“Why do enforcement officers in Malaysia need so much power that New Zealand officers don’t? Do these clauses infringe on personal privacy and human rights?” asked the former energy, science, technology, environment, and climate change minister.
The Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill 2022 tabled by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin last week seeks to prohibit the sale of cigarettes, tobacco and vape products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2007.
The bill proposes a fine for offenders and also empowers enforcement officers to act without a warrant when entering premises and to conduct searches.
On Twitter yesterday evening, Khairy said the proposed penalties for the law had been toned down following a meeting with PSCs on the matter.
He said proposed fines have been reduced from RM5,000 to RM500, with community service as an option to replace fines.
Khairy also said the amendments included doing away with body searches against those aged below 18. – The Vibes, August 2, 2022
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