Malaysia’s Health Ministry has made plans to ban the sale of smoking products to those born after 2005, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin. Speaking at the World Health Organization’s Executive Board Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday, January 26th, Jamaluddin said he hopes the legislation will be passed this year. “This is by making it illegal for the sale of tobacco and other smoking products to anyone born after 2005,” he said. He added that this would bring about a significant impact on the control and prevention of non-communicable diseases.
Previously, Jamaluddin said that he would introduce a new Tobacco and Smoking Control Act in the upcoming Parliament to regulate vape and e-cigarettes products and enforce a ‘Generation End-Game’ to combat the menace of smoking in the long run.
The initiative has taken a page from New Zealand’s new law to ban cigarette sales for future generations by implementing phases of cigarette sales and use restrictions starting from 2024. Various non-governmental organizations, including crime watch task force MyWatch, Ikram Health Association, the National Cancer Society and the Malaysian Pharmacy Association, have extended their support to the proposed Bill.
