Look Into Geg Again Pm Urged

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 Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh says the absence of a specific legislation to regulate the industry has led to the widespread sale of vape products.
In April this year, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had urged the government to consider reviving the GEG bill as several states were considering banning the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes.PETALING JAYA: Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh tonight urged the prime minister to once again consider a proposed law which would ban the use, possession and sale of cigarettes and vape products for those born after 2007
Akmal said that the absence of a specific legislation to regulate the industry had led to the widespread sale of vape products.
“Which is why we have been consistent in our stand about tabling the ‘generational end game’ (bill) to ensure we can curb the drug and vape addiction among the younger generation,” he said in a Facebook post.
Akmal was commenting on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s call for urgent action on the rising usage of drugs and vapes among the youth in the country.
First tabled by the then health minister Khairy Jamaluddin in July 2022, the bill was held up due to resistance from several MPs over its content. At the time, the health parliamentary committee was asked to address these issues.
It was retabled in June 2023 after the formation of the unity government following the 15th general election but, once again, the bill was referred to the health parliamentary committee.
Then attorney-general Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh had reportedly described the GEG provisions as being unconstitutional for going against the guarantee of equal protection under the law.
The GEG components were eventually removed from the tobacco bill on grounds that they were unconstitutional, though the then health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the government might “bring it back” in the future if needed.
A revised version of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill was tabled and passed by the Dewan Rakyat in November 2023, and then by the Senate the following month.
Akmal said it was a pity that the health ministry later decided to exempt nicotine liquids and gels used in e-cigarettes and vape products from the Poisons Act.
In April this year, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man urged the government to consider reviving the GEG bill as several states were considering banning the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes.
Terengganu, Perlis and Kedah have moved to ban the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes, joining Johor and Kelantan which imposed the ban years ago. - FMT

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