Mister Khairy said a week ago in a Twitter video clip that the country had to spend RM6. two billion (US$1. 4 billion) in 2020 to treat three illnesses caused by smoking – lung cancer, heart problems and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
This cost was likely to increase to RM8. 8 billion simply by 2030, he stated, adding that the tax collected from the tobacco industry yearly was about RM3 billion.
In his speech tabling the Bill designed for second reading on Monday, Mr Khairy said that it is time for a brave and radical approach to stem the issues caused by smoking.
“If we knew what we knew regarding smoking 50 in years past, there is no way we would have allowed it to be sold, like a ban on medicines. Now is the time to do some thing, ” he said.
Mr Khairy said according to the Asean Tobacco Atlas Malaysia factsheet, about twenty-seven, 000 deaths in the land yearly were attributed to smoking.
He also stressed how the regulations will not affect those smokers that are above 18 years old.
“We will never disturb you. You are able to smoke until you die. We just want to end the cycle associated with smoking among a brand new generation, ” he or she said.
Mr Khairy also stated that the problems caused by smoking are compounded with devices such as e-cigarettes and vape.
“From 2015, the unit entered the Malaysian market and until now the number of users of the devices among kids and teenagers has increased, ” he mentioned, adding that they are not really regulated enough under existing laws.
The ministry made several changes towards the Bill on Monday after discussions with the Parliamentary Select Panel (PSC) on Women, Children and Social Development and the PSC on Health, Science and Innovation.
Standard fines within the Bill have been reduced from RM5, 000 to RM500, by having an addition of neighborhood service in lieu of an excellent.
There will be no body searches for anybody under 18 with no punishment for ownership for all related accidents, Mr Khairy added.
“This Costs is too important never to get broad bi-partisan support, ” he said.
During the debate, some MPs hailed the Bill as a game changer while some felt that parts of the Bill could be construed as an infringement of personal liberty.
Padang Rengas MP Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, for instance, said on Mon that the Bill had been discriminatory and that individuals could bring the situation to the court later on.
“We need to think carefully about this. Freedom of choice is very important to everyone, ” he or she said.