KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has questioned the Health Ministry’s decision to conduct a Generational Endgame (GEG) survey via MySejahtera at the eleventh hour.
In a statement today, MMA president Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz opined that the government’s latest move to conduct a survey is yet another attempt to delay the second reading of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023.
“From its move to delist nicotine gels and liquids from the Poisons Act early this year, postponements, and now this latest move – to conduct a survey when the bill should have already been tabled for a second reading.
“We are not convinced that the government is genuinely committed to advancing the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023, despite the health minister’s assurance,” she said.
She also said that the Health Ministry should be committed to combating the dangers of smoking and vaping.
“It is imperative that the government takes decisive action to ensure the swift passage of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 in this parliamentary session, as they had pledged,” she said.
She also pointed out that Malaysians no longer use or have deleted the MySejahtera app.
“No compromises, no delays – our health demands nothing less,” she added.
On Wednesday, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa announced that the Health Ministry has launched a survey to gather feedback and gauge public sentiments about the GEG initiative, which will ban tobacco and smoking products for anyone born on or after January 1, 2007. – October 13, 2023