PUTRAJAYA: The Tobacco Products and Smoking Control Bill 2022 will help the hardcore poor the most.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said based on the ministry's checks, it showed that the hardcore poor were more prone to smoking and this had contributed to a higher number of patients suffering from various health problems, including lung cancer and heart disease.
"Smoking exposes a person to higher health risks and if you look carefully, many of the patients who have health complications from smoking are mostly those from the hardcore poor who are the tobacco companies' targets.
"The government is only trying to reduce the possibility of health complications by tabling the bill," he said.
Khairy also clarified that underage smokers would not be charged in court or have a criminal record if caught smoking under the new provision.
"Instead, they would only be issued a minimal fine and it will not reflect in their record. I don't understand why some quarters are protesting the bill," Khairy said, adding that there was already a rule in place for tobacco-related young offenders.