THE Control of Smoking Product for Public Health Bill 2023 with a generational endgame (GEG) smoking ban must be passed for the sake of a healthier nation, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii said.

He said the bill will protect future generations from lifelong addiction as well as chronic diseases.

The bill, when it becomes law, will result in “significant public health, social, and economic benefits in the long term”.

The Health Ministry is set to table the bill in parliament on June 12.

Some MPs have objected to the bill, saying it would take away the right of the people to choose. Critics have slammed the early draft of the bill for its over-reaching enforcement powers and the “punitive” nature of the legislation.

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the 2023 version of the bill was “more comprehensive” and covered conventional as well as “next generation” smoking products, including electronic and combustible devices. It retains the GEG provision banning those born on January 1, 2007 and after, or the GEG group, from buying smoking products.

As suggested by the parliamentary select committee, the new bill has been amended to reduce the fine from RM5,000 to RM500 for offenders and provide for community service as a way to educate and raise awareness. Personal possession of tobacco or vape products by the GEG group is no longer deemed an offence.

The bill does not allow law enforcers to perform body searches and also limit their enforcement powers to manufacturing, packaging, storage, delivery, distribution and sale of tobacco products

The first version of the bill, the  Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill 2022”, was tabled in parliament last July.

Yii said the new draft has gone through layers of scrutiny and amendment to address the concerns raised in parliament and by stakeholders.

He said that he was involved firsthand in “polishing the bill”.

“I can testify how many amendments were made to address many of the legitimate concerns on top of installing safeguards within the Act itself to ensure constant review on its effectiveness and more importantly, it achieves its intended target without any unintended consequences,” he said in a statement.

He said GEG group offenders who are caught smoking only faced a compound fine and are not criminalised.

“We as policy-makers are at an important juncture. Once in a while, we will be presented with a decision, the consequences of which will be felt for many, many years to come. I believe this is one of them.

“While I understand the concerns and complexity surrounding the bill itself,  I strongly believe this is the right and responsible thing to do, especially to protect our future generations.”