Success of GEG bill hinges on harm reduction policies, say experts

 

A university academic says the GEG bill overlooks the use of harm reduction methods.

PETALING JAYA: The inclusion of harm reduction policies is crucial to ensure the success of the Tobacco and Smoking Control Bill, health experts said.

Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations Malaysia president Dr Steven Chow said the government should not push what has been dubbed the Generational End Game (GEG) bill through in haste.

“We must take the time and use our resources well,” he said.

“Rushing the GEG and excluding harm reduction from the policy would be a missed opportunity as we may lose out on making a meaningful impact on the tobacco epidemic.”

Chow said the parliamentary select committee (PSC) tasked with drafting the bill must refer to scientific reports on harm reduction to ensure a proper regulatory framework is in place, adding that there was a desperate need for research on tobacco harm reduction in the country.

He also urged the PSC to engage general practitioners and doctors trained in assisting patients quit smoking when drafting policies, warning that it would be “disastrous” if the government had to backtrack on the bill five years down the line due to incomprehensive or ineffective laws.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia professor of public health Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said the current draft of the bill underplayed and overlooked the use of harm reduction methods, and called on the PSC to refer to successful examples of such methods in other countries.

“Abruptly banning the sale of tobacco and smoking products might encourage people to turn to illegal means to obtain such products,” she said.

Sharifa added that regulations should be implemented gradually if the bill was approved.

In August, the Dewan Rakyat voted to refer the bill, which seeks to ban the use, possession and sale of cigarettes and vape products for those born after 2007, to a PSC.

The bill had met with resistance from several quarters, including MPs and industry players.

On Monday, it was reported that more than 600,000 Malaysians signed an online petition opposing the GEG bill.

The Malaysian Vape Chamber of Commerce (MVCC) and the Malaysian Vape Industry Advocacy (MVIA) urged Putrajaya to heed the voices of the signatories and industry players. MVIA president Rizani Zakaria said they had sought a meeting with the PSC but their request had been ignored.

Last week, health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the bill was still being studied by the PSC, but he remained hopeful that the legislation would be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat next month.

When contacted, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii, who is on the PSC drafting the bill, told FMT he could not disclose details of the bill as it was still under review. - FMT