In a previously unheard-of measure against one of the leading causes of death globally, Malaysia is proposing outlawing smoking and the sale of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to those who were born after 2007. This would join New Zealand’s legislation.
The Tobacco and Smoking Control Measure 2022 was introduced for a first reading in parliament on Wednesday. Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin stated that he anticipates the bill to be discussed and approved during the current session, which ends on August 4.
If the legislation is approved, people who were born on or after January 1, 2007, will not be permitted to smoke, purchase, or possess any tobacco products, even after they become 18. The proposal forbids retailers and distributors from offering such products to customers in that age bracket.
The World Health Organization estimates that tobacco use causes more than 8 million deaths annually. The FDA estimates that nearly one in four people use cigarettes worldwide.
A similar bill to ban the sale of tobacco products to anybody born after 2009 was introduced in New Zealand on Tuesday. The Generational Endgame is started, Khairy wrote in a tweet about the action, referring to his Generational Endgame project that aims to reduce cigarette usage.
The so-called Generational Endgame effort seeks to create a generation in Malaysia free from cigarette use. According to Khairy’s latest tweet, it will lower the number of smokers, combat addiction, and save lives.
In a TikTok video, he claimed that “more than 400 individuals in Malaysia die every week due to reasons related to smoking.” According to him, cancer is the primary cause of hospital deaths in the nation and is primarily brought on by tobacco usage.
Those born after 2005 were originally supposed to be covered by the law. Khairy made the decision on Monday to include a two-year buffer to allow for an implementation plan, community education, and enforcement after hearing opinions at several stakeholder sessions.
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