A public health pressure group campaigning to stop the smoking habit has hit back at the government for delaying the Control of Smoking Product for Public Health Bill 2023, saying it comes as Putrajaya’s move to delist vape nicotine as a controlled substance three months ago was already showing worrying results.
The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy said the bill should have been allowed for a second reading in the Dewan Rakyat today so that it can be debated openly and passed during the current parliamentary meeting.
“No more excuses, ifs and buts. The government and MPs must be pragmatic, find both the right compromises and the moral courage to step up and do the right thing,” said Galen Centre’s CEO Azrul Mohd Khalib, hours after Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa pushed the bill to the parliamentary special select committee on health.