Malaysia plans to outlaw smoking for future generations

SHAH ALAM - In a bid to eventually phase out smoking for future generations, the government has planned to ban the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products to those who were born after 2005.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said like some of the other Western Pacific countries (WPRO), Malaysia too hopes to pass a legislation, this year, which will bring about a generation end game to smoking.

"Malaysia would like to highlight the negative impact of tobacco in NCDs (non-communicable diseases), which is well known.

"We, like some other WPRO countries, hope to pass a legislation this year, by making it illegal for the sale of tobacco and other smoking products to anyone born after 2005," he said at the 150th session of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) executive board meeting in Geneva, on Wednesday.

This would mean that those aged 17, this year, could not buy any smoking products when they turn 18, the legal age for smoking in Malaysia or ever.

Khairy said this will have a significant impact in preventing and controlling NCDs.

Previously, Khairy said the government has planned to table a new Tobacco and Smoking Control Act in Parliament.

The new bill called the 'generation end-game" to ban smoking for future generations, he said will also regulate e-cigarettes and vaping products.

The government's proposal to table the new Act, received support from a total of 57 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) nationwide.

The group had also urged for a complete ban on smoking products including e-cigarettes and vapes.

Among organisations which had supported the proposal were Persatuan Kesihatan IKRAM Malaysia (IKRAM Health), Malaysian Women's Action for Tobacco Control and Health (MyWATCH), Medical Mythbusters Malaysia (M3), Malaysian Association of Environmental Health (MAEH), and Malaysian Association of Adolescent Health (MAAH).