Smoking GEG: Group calls for RCI on lobbyists' 'influence'

 

A consumer association today called on the government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to probe any influence of the tobacco and vape industry on the removal of the generational endgame (GEG) provision from a law to control smoking.

This comes after Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni revealed to the Dewan Rakyat last week that industry representatives had met directly with MPs ahead of the bill’s debates, allegedly swaying their views against the endgame measure aimed at creating a smoke-free future generation.

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in a statement said an RCI is needed to reveal the extent of “infiltration and influence” of the lobbyists on the MPs.

“These lobbyists are like drug merchants lobbying MPs to legalise something that will eventually destroy the youth and the nation.

“Unfortunately, there are some policymakers who are complicit in this grand scheme of things, excluding the GEG to serve the agenda of the lobbyists who want to continue addicting Malaysians for many generations to come so they can profit from it.

“In view of the current developments, we reiterate our call for the government to set up an RCI on this matter of national importance,” said CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader.

“We want to know the extent of ‘infiltration’ and ‘influence’ of the lobbyists on our MPs. We also want to know who is behind the sabotage of GEG,” he added.

While thanking Lukanisman for officially confirming a rumour that had already been going around, Mohideen (above) also called for Putrajaya to reinstate the GEG provisions via a law amendment.

“Unless this corruption of the parliamentary process is prevented, it will open the door for external forces, including foreign governments, to influence the government to serve their agenda.”

On March 14, Lukanisman revealed in the Dewan Rakyat that lobbyists had met with MPs and influenced their decision on GEG provisions.

Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni

“On pressure from the industry - we need support from all quarters.

“If we look at our experience when we tabled the GEG, a conflict of views arose due to industry pressure - the industry (members) entered Parliament and they met MPs which influenced the decision,” he reportedly said in response to Kapar MP Dr Halimah Ali’s supplementary question during the Ministers’ Question Time. - Mkini