Muar MP still undecided on Khairy's smoking ban bill

 

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said he will support Putrajaya's ambitious age-based smoking ban bill only if he is satisfied with the explanations given to Parliament.

Speaking to health news portal CodeBlue, Syed Saddiq said he had three concerns.

Firstly, he said small retailers and businesses would be impacted by such a ban and the effect will spread throughout the economy.

According to Syed Saddiq, small retailers such as sundry shops have told him that tobacco sales can make up to 25 percent of profits.

"A complete ban will result in a great reduction of income for said retailers, which will have severe adverse effects on them, compounded by the already high and rising cost of living and the implementation of the minimum wage.

"We need to consider that every cent that can be made by small retailers is important to them and we should not make their already difficult lives any harder," he said.

Secondly, Syed Saddiq argued that Khairy's bill will inadvertently encourage calls for more bans based on religious or moral grounds.

The bill sought to introduce a cohort smoking ban - those born after 2005 will not be allowed to buy or consume tobacco products.

Dubbed a "generational endgame", Khairy's bill aimed at reducing the burden on the public health systems as the cost of treating smoking-related diseases far exceeded the revenue the government generates from tobacco products.

Black market cigarettes

Syed Saddiq said the bill if passed, will create an "unnecessary precedent" that may open the doors for racially motivated attempts to ban other products.

In contrast, he said when the Pakatan Harapan administration banned smoking at eateries, it was specifically to address the harm caused by second-hand smoke.

"A generational ban will, however, limit and stop individuals from actively partaking in tobacco consumption.

"Some may even argue that the right to smoke can be construed as a liberty right," he added.

Syed Saddiq's third and final concern was that Khairy's bill, when implemented, could drive black market cigarettes further.

"A ban will drive the contraband market share even higher... In a way, one can say that there might even be a bigger leakage in government spending.

"Again, I understand the public health perspective of things, but we do not want to end up in a situation where we take one step forward, but then end up having to take two steps back, or in this case, more than two," he said.

Apart from Syed Saddiq, Bersatu has voiced concern over Khairy's bill as well, which is expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat next week. - Mkini