Malaysian Health Minister Denies Industry Pressure on Smoking Ban Cancellation

According to a report by Freemalaysia today, Malaysian Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad has denied Deputy Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni's comments that pressure from the tobacco and e-cigarette industries led the government to cancel its plan to ban people born after 2007 from smoking and using e-cigarettes.

Zulkifli stated in parliament that the exclusion of the GEG provision from the Public Health Anti-Tobacco Bill was not influenced by industry lobbying.

The Deputy Minister's facts and statements are all incorrect... We had initially wanted to include the GEG clause, but the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) raised constitutional issues.

The minister acknowledged that some industry representatives and lobbyists have met with members of Parliament on this issue. However, he believes that "assuming that this means industry representatives and lobbyists have influenced government and cabinet decisions is inappropriate and wrong."

Last Thursday (March 14th), Deputy Minister Lukaniemans stated that pressure from the tobacco and e-cigarette industries has influenced the "decisions" of the bill, but did not provide further details.

After Member of Parliament Halimah Ali of the National Union called on the government to have more determination in combating lobbying from the tobacco and e-cigarette industries, Lucanisman stated that the government "needs the cooperation and support of all parties." He referenced the lessons learned from the Public Health (Tobacco) Act, which initially included provisions banning the use of tobacco and e-cigarettes by Generation Z individuals born after 2007. "Pressure from the industry, industry members entering parliament and meeting with MPs. This influenced the decision," the deputy minister told the lower house.

Former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin first proposed the bill in July 2022, but faced resistance from some members of parliament. The Health Parliamentary Committee was tasked with addressing these issues. The bill was resubmitted to the Health Parliamentary Committee last June following the 15th general election.

The Attorney General Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh stated that the GEG provision was unconstitutional, leading to its removal from the tobacco law. However, the then Health Minister Zaliha Mustafa mentioned that the government may consider reinstating it in the future if necessary.

The revised bill was passed by Congress in November of last year, and received approval from the Senate the following month.