Punitive measures have not been proven effective in curing smokers of their addiction, according to health experts. Instead, they propose a new law, known as the Generational End Game (GEG) law, which focuses on penalizing sellers to restrict access to young people. The National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) and Ikram Health Malaysia, two organizations made up of these experts, have suggested that smokers not be penalized for their addiction in order to create a new generation of non-smokers. The proposed law is set to go through its second reading in Parliament, following amendments.
The Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill, also known as the GEG Bill, imposes a smoking ban and restricts the sale of tobacco products, including vapes, to individuals born after January 1, 2007. Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa announced that the revised bill adopts a “soft landing” approach, prioritizing educational enforcement rather than imposing fines on underage offenders. This education-focused approach involves counseling and providing access to smoking cessation clinics for minors.
NCSM managing director Dr M. Murallitharan argues that control measures should be comprehensive rather than solely punitive. He emphasizes that a criminalistic approach to addiction management has not been successful in the past, and calls for measures such as limiting promotions and advertising, and ensuring that only eligible individuals can access tobacco products. The previous Parliamentary Special Select Committee on GEG had already removed punitive measures for possession, and now the experts recommend removing them for usage as well.
Dr Mohd Afiq Mohd Nor, president of Ikram Health Malaysia, highlights the goal of the GEG policy to control nicotine addiction at its source—the point of sale. He stresses the importance of treating nicotine use disorder rather than punishing individuals. However, he also notes that the GEG aims to reduce the prevalence of young smokers and vapers by prohibiting sales to those born after 2007. While the GEG does not punish nicotine addicts, there are punitive measures in place for sellers who sell tobacco products to underage individuals.
The stakeholders pushing for the implementation of the GEG are committed to addressing the issue of smoking and vaping among minors. Their focus is to limit sales to the target age group and prevent their access to tobacco products. They propose increasing and multiplying penalties for non-compliant sellers. The GEG was originally proposed due to the high costs incurred by the government for treating lung injuries associated with e-cigarette or vaping product use.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
