New anti-smoking law for individuals born after 2005 to be tabled in July

 

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the draft of the Tobacco and Smoking Control Bill was currently being finalised by the Attorney-General’s Chambers and expected to be completed in the next two weeks. - NSTP/ASYRAF HAMZAH

SEPANG: A new law to ban smoking and the possession of tobacco products, including electronic vaporisers for people born after 2005, will be tabled in Parliament in July.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the draft of the Tobacco and Smoking Control Bill was currently being finalised by the Attorney-General's Chambers and expected to be completed in the next two weeks.

"I will then present it to the parliamentary health, science and technology special select committee.

"Insya-Allah, the Bill will be tabled in the next parliamentary session," he said in his speech during the community health agent MyCHAMPION launch today.

Khairy had previously said the new law, described as a "Generational End Game" for smoking in the country, would help to reduce exposure to cigarettes and tobacco products for future generations.

"If you are 17 years old and Parliament passes the law, you will never be able to buy cigarettes in this country ever again," he had said.

Tobacco use accounts for 25 per cent of all cancer deaths globally and is the primary cause of lung cancer, according to the World Health Organisation. - NST