GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) is not pleased with the major changes proposed by the Parliamentary Special Select Committee reviewing the tobacco generational endgame (GEG) bill.
Its president Mohideen Abdul Kader said the major changes proposed did not act as deterrent.
Among the proposed changes are lower fines and community service for minors, exempting criminal records for offenders and criminalising only consumption and not possession of smoking and vaping products.
"It is difficult for an officer to take action on a person born after Jan 1, 2007 if the person is not caught smoking/vaping even though having in his possession vaping or smoking products.
"What is the deterrence factor then?" he told the New Straits Times.
Mohideen said the major changes proposed would not achieve the government's goal to end tobacco addiction, especially among the young people.
"We hope the committee will review its decision if it is serious in seeing a smoke-free society among our young people," he added.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin tabled the GEG bill for first reading on July 27 but stopped short of putting it to vote in the previous Dewan Rakyat sitting.
The bill is expected to be retabled tomorrow.