MELAKA: The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) urged the Government to consult the affected industries before enacting the proposed Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill 2022, also known as the tobacco generational endgame (GEG) law.
In response to concerns raised by those affected by the proposed law, Huazong President Tan Sri T.C Goh proposed five points for the government to consider to ensure a win-win implementation of the said legislation.
Goh who is also President of The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) made the proposals at the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Melaka Koo Soo Sun Heng Hong Restaurants and Teashops Association cum swearing-in ceremony of its 15th executive committee, at Pay Fong Middle School, Tuesday.
The first proposal is that the Government temporarily postpone the said Bill and engage with players from the affected sector to further discuss the matter;
Secondly, since the government had earlier mentioned that it intended to educate the public towards achieving total ban of smoking in the country, it should follow through with such a strategy, or consider other approaches;
Thirdly, the government should take into consideration various potential adverse impacts on the affected business sector, including illegal cigarette smuggling which would affect the government’s tax collection, once the proposed Bill comes into force in 2025;
Fourthly, once the proposed Bill comes into force, it might cause great inconvenience, or even trigger disputes between the business operators and their customers, especially for the traditional coffee shops and restaurants, who have no authority to enforce the said law, including asking the customers to produce their identity cards, in order to show proof of their ages.
Fifthly, the government recently announced that it planned to amend the Road Transport Act 1987 to impose heavier penalties on illegal motorcycle racers or “mat rempit” as well as to fine the parents if the mat rempit is an underage person, in an effort to combat such activities which are dangerous to other motorcyclists and road users. The police too had announced that it would not tolerate the ‘basikal lajak’ riders, and that it would act tough on their parents.
However, in the case of the proposed GEG Bill, the coffee shop and eatery operators are not the parents of the underage individuals who came to buy cigarettes, hence they should not be fined.
Meanwhile, is the authority concerned going to impose a fine on the parents of the underage person who came to buy cigarettes?
He said once the said Bill is passed and comes into force, it would prohibit smoking, purchasing and/or possession of tobacco or tobacco products and devices by all individuals born on Jan 1, 2007 onwards.
If convicted of an offence, such individuals may be liable to fines of up to RM 5,000 while those who sell tobacco products and devices to such individuals may be liable to a fine of up to RM 300,000, imprisonment of up to three years or both (the maximum where a seller is a body corporate convicted for the second or each subsequent offence).
Sale of imitation tobacco products, which would include e-cigarettes, vapes and heated tobacco products, is also proposed to be banned under this Bill.
Huazong also supported the stand by the Malaysia Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors’ General Association, urging the government not to rush the implementation of the Bill, instead to have a proper and thorough discussion with various quarters.
“While we fully support the government’s move to encourage smokers to quit smoking… we nonetheless opine that the government adopt a more considerate approach to achieve this, and not some harsh measures which would adversely affect the business sector,” he said.
He also urged the government to exercise great caution in pursuing legalising the use of cannabis for medical purposes, as reported recently.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had said the government will take a stand on the use of cannabis for medical purposes before the end of the year.
“We fully support the government’s move to allow the use of cannabis for medical purposes. But, we hope the government will do it with great caution and strict enforcement, after all, cannabis can be misused for wrong purposes,” he said.
He concluded that, whether it is about legalising the use of cannabis or to gradually move towards banning smoking in Malaysia, such agendas must be carefully executed, in order to ensure that they do not backfire and cause more harm than good, for the nation and its people.
* Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss.
* Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
