THE Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) must consult retail business owners on the measures proposed in the Control of Tobacco Products and Smoking Bill 2022, the Federation of Sundry Goods Merchants Associations of Malaysia (FSGMAM) said.

Its president, Hong Chee Meng, said that the proposed bill was made without detailed research and consultation with the retail businesses who are the frontliners in the sector. 

“The PSSC needs to consult all those in the retail business before making decisions as it will impact them and change the way the retail sector operates.”

“There wasn’t any discussion or consultation made with the retail sector since the idea was mooted,” said Hong.

In July, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin tabled Malaysia’s Control of Tobacco Products and Smoking Bill 2022, the first reading in the Dewan Rakyat to introduce a generational endgame law, which will, among others, prohibit the smoking of cigarettes among persons born in 2007 and after.

If the bill is passed into law, those born from January 1, 2007 can be fined up to RM5,000 if they buy, smoke or possess tobacco products like cigarettes or vaping equipment.

Any person caught selling tobacco or vape products to those born from that date can be fined up to RM20,000 and/or jailed up to one year for the first offence, followed by a fine of up to RM30,000 and/or jailed up to two years for subsequent offences.

Meanwhile, Hong added that the sales of tobacco products contributes to the revenue stream of sundry shop businesses. 

He said that it provides a steady flow of income to help cover daily operational costs and in recent times, to recover from economic setbacks due to the pandemic. 

“The ban will take away our revenue stream in the long run.”

“In addition, we also have tough competition from illegal products. There are so many products in the market that do not comply with the Health Ministry’s laws and they are all sold below the minimum price of RM12 as required by the ministry.”

“This matter needs to be dealt with first before any new measures and policies are considered,” he explained.

Hong said the authorities should instead focus on combating the sale of illegal products that is causing the country to lose billions in tax revenue. – September 9, 2022.