HEALTH Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad today apologised in the Dewan Negara over the dropping of the tobacco and vape generational endgame (GEG) provisions from the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill, Malaysiakini reports.

The online news portal reported that the Kuala Selangor MP tabled the bill for approval at the Dewan Negara today.

Dzulkefly reportedly urged all quarters to understand and back existing government measures for now.

“I apologise a million times, I apologise to everyone and I present it without diminishing the importance that all members approve this bill.

“Because it has been worked on for too long, many health ministers have struggled with it, was reviewed by several cabinets and today I am presenting it to the Dewan Negara, fully hoping that it will be given support,” he was quoted as saying.

Dzulkefly voiced his strong support on efforts to solve problems relating to nicotine addiction, but said the government needed to take a holistic approach to change public perception and habits when it comes to smoking.

“GEG is certainly a way for us to reduce the percentage of smokers in our country from 21% to (an expectantly) low level of 5% by 2040.

“Since the GEG provision is not included in this bill, imagine how difficult it will be for us to reduce the percentage of smokers. Even with the GEG, it is also a difficult thing, even more so if the GEG provision is not included in the bill.

“But I want to mention that with the absence of the GEG, we have been facing difficulty in reaching the KPI to the level mentioned earlier,” he added.

Attorney-General Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh reportedly held the view that the GEG provisions were “unconstitutional” because they violated article 8 of the Federal Constitution, which guaranteed equality before the law. – December 13, 2023.