Yii : PSC to review far-reaching powers of enforcement in Tobacco bill

SHAH ALAM - Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii said the Control of Tobacco Products and Smoking Bill 2022 is crucial for the country but gaps over implementation and possible abuse of enforcement powers need to be looked into.

The power includes powers to enter any premises, seize conveyance as well as powers to search and seize without warrant, including body search by the officers of the same gender.

"This is disproportionate and open to abuse especially when there is inconsistent enforcement from different agencies.

"That is why the recommendations for the Parliamentary Select Committee of Health, Science and Innovation was to delay the implementation of the GEG, not to simply delay what is good, he said referring to the generational end game (GEG) proposed by Health Ministry Khairy Jamaluddin to ban youths born in and after 2007 from smoking.

The bill which was supposed to be tabled for second and third reading at this sitting has now been referred to the Parliamentary Select Committee of which Yii is one of the 11MPs to sit on the committee.

This comes after Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had requested the prime minister to the matter to PSC to deliberate on several issues, including enforcement.

In a series of tweets, Yii said in order to prepare a proper enforcement framework is needed to ensure no one is victimised by the law. This includes refining the powers of the enforcers.

Yii, the DAP Youth chief further said an individual who is addicted to nicotine, whether to cigarettes or vape has the right to be treated equally under the law with dignity.

"What is more important is to make sure we come out with a "good law" and addressed all the concerns to get proper buy-in to increase compliance and ensure it achieves its intended target," he said.