Malaysia revises its anti-smoking legislation bill
Malaysia’s proposed anti-smoking legislation to outlaw smoking for all people born after 2007 in order to phase it out.
After receiving complaints that it would violate civil liberties, Malaysia is revising its anti-smoking legislation.
The public and the parliament in Malaysia fiercely opposed the country's new smoke-free future bill due to the legislation' wide enforcement powers.
With the Tobacco and Smoking Products Control Bill 2022, smoking will gradually become illegal for anybody born after 2007, ushering in a new generation of non-smokers. For individuals who are of legal drinking age, it is still lawful.
The law will be sent to the parliamentary committee for additional review before being put to a vote, according to health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who acknowledged that some of the bill's clauses need to be "tightened up."
The bill is opposed by several parliamentarians, like Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing, who cited previous anti-smoking legislation failures and the burden such laws may place on his predominantly rural and impoverished constituency.
“Life, difficult, death, difficult, now even smoking will be difficult,” Tiong said.
