KUALA LUMPUR: The Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill 2022, also known as the tobacco generational endgame (GEG) law, will be referred to a parliamentary special select committee (PSSC), Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said.
After two days of debate as well as various complaints and suggestions made in the Dewan Rakyat, Khairy said the government had decided against sending the bill to a vote.
"We have decided to refer this bill to a special select committee.
"We have to take this matter seriously. I don't want it to be like the idiom 'rumah dah siap, pahat masih berbunyi' (the house is done, but the chisel can still be heard).
"Let's make sure this house is built as perfect as it can be, so that the chisel won't make any more sounds since there are supporters and opposers on both sides of the aisle," he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Khairy (BN-Rembau) said he had expected the bill to be met with critical responses, but pointed out the importance of realising the bill.
Describing the bill as a game-changer, he said the aim of the proposed law is to eventually end the smoking habit among Malaysians.
"Look at how harmful smoking is to each human being. This is the deadliest human invention ever... in history. The harmful effect is not only to ourself, but also to others. It's a self-inflicted invention."
With the decision to refer the bill to a PSSC, Khairy said the committee would get to review the enforcements of the bill as well as suggestions to improve it.
Aside from that, the SCC would scrutinise certain provisions related to the penalties and the recommendations made by members of parliament.
The committee, he said, would also have to provide its own recommendations on the bill within a month.
The SCC will be chaired by Khairy and would comprise Datuk Seri Azeez Rahim, Datuk Nizar Zakaria, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, Lukanisman Awang Sauni, Dr Kelvin Yii, Sivarasa Rasiah, Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Datuk Seri Madius Tangau, Datuk Ignatius Darell Leiking and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.
"The PSSC may invite anyone they like, including legal experts, constitutional experts, MPs, non-governmental organisations, members of the public or any individual, to attend a meeting."