Youth smoking ban bill to be tabled in July - Khairy

 

A new law to ban smoking and the possession of any smoking products, including electronic cigarettes for those born after 2005 will be tabled in Parliament in July, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said the bill is currently being finalised by the Attorney-General's Chambers.

“I think in one to two weeks it will be completed, and then I can present it to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and Technology,” he said.

He was speaking to the media after the launch of the national-level community health agent, MyChampion, in Sepang, Selangor.

On Feb 17, Khairy (above) announced the introduction of the law, aimed at reducing the exposure of future generations to cigarettes and smoking products.

This is because their consumption is a major factor in cancer incidence and accounts for 22 percent of cancer deaths.

Earlier, in his speech, Khairy said the introduction of the new law related to cigarettes was one of the efforts of the Health Ministry in intensifying smoking cessation among Malaysians.

“We will introduce a new law so that it is a legal offence to sell cigarettes to anyone born after 2005.

“Indeed enforcement will be a challenge. Nothing to stop these young people from asking adults to buy cigarettes for them.

“But I think this is the first step towards us ending smoking for a generation. It is a generational end game,” he said.

Khairy also asked MyChampion volunteers to remind members of the public who are caught smoking in no-smoking areas.

“I don't have enough enforcement officers to go to every restaurant to issue compounds to those who are still stubborn, and we can’t possibly conduct operations continuously.

“I ask MyChampion to reprimand members of the public politely so that they no longer smoke in no-smoking areas," he said.

Khairy said MyChampion is a team of volunteers in the field, who act as agents to bring change in mindset and health behaviours to the community and indirectly help Malaysia enter the Covid-19 endemic transition phase.

He said last year, 7,000 volunteers were appointed under the initiative, and the ministry targets to appoint another 10,000 this year.

Khairy also said his ministry will launch a health screening campaign, involving 1.5 million people, this July, with details to be announced soon.

- Bernama