THE Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023, also known as the generational endgame (GEG) bill, has once again been sent to the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on health for further review.

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa stated that during an engagement session last week, PSC members, MPs, professional bodies, and NGOs had expressed the need for certain aspects of the bill to be thoroughly examined.

“It is important for this bill to obtain the undivided support of all parties,” she said while tabling the bill for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat.

Towards this end, Zaliha said the bill has been referred to to the PSC, which serves as a mechanism for checks and balances and takes into consideration the perspectives of all stakeholders.

This marks the second time the bill has been referred to the PSC, following its introduction by former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin last year.

The proposed legislation aims to prohibit the use, purchase, and sale of cigarettes and vape products for individuals born after 2007.

At a media briefing on June 6, Zaliha announced the incorporation of all 23 proposed amendments and the addition of five new suggestions to the bill. This comprehensive approach aims to address not only traditional smoking products but also emerging ones, such as electronic and combustible devices.

Zaliha stated that the bill still contained the GEG provision, which she said was crucial in tackling the issue of smoking, particularly among young people. The provisions had significant economic implications and the potential to save more than two million lives, she said. – June 12, 2023.