MAlayia, which was founded in 2007, is looking to ban smoking and all tobacco products. This move joins New Zealand’s unprecedented efforts against the leading cause of death, e-cigarettes.
Khairy Jamaluddin, Health Minister presented Wednesday’s Tobacco and Smoking Control Bill 2022 to parliament for its first reading.
If the bill is passed, those born on or after Jan. 1, 2007, won’t be allowed to smoke, buy or own any tobacco products even after they reach age 18. Under the proposal, shopkeepers and distributors won’t be allowed to sell such products for anyone under 18.
The World Health Organization estimates that tobacco smoking causes over 8 million deaths annually. According to the WHO, nearly one-fourth of all people worldwide use tobacco.
On Tuesday, New Zealand introduced a similar bill that would prohibit the sale of tobacco products for anyone who was born after 2009. Khairy mentioned the move in a tweet referencing his Generational Endgame initiative that’s focused on curbing tobacco use, saying: “The Generational Endgame is starting.”
Generational Endgame is a campaign that aims to create a tobacco-free Malaysia. Khairy also tweeted that the campaign will curb smoking, save lives and reduce dependence.
“In Malaysia, more than 400 people die every week because of reasons related to smoking,” he said in a TikTok video. According to him, tobacco is the biggest cause of cancer. Cancer is also the leading cause for hospital deaths in this country.
The original intention was to make the law applicable to all people born after 2005. Khairy listened to the views of various stakeholders and decided Monday to include a 2-year buffer for implementation planning, education, enforcement, and community education.
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