PETALING JAYA: The Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on health is almost done with the review and fine-tuning of the Control of Smoking Product for Public Health Bill 2023, says its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
“We’re almost done after eight series of meetings,” he said when contacted.
Dr Dzulkefly said the PSSC held meetings with Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa and her deputy Lukanisman Awang Sauni as well as top officials from the ministry.
Meetings were also held with the Local Government Development and Domestic Trade and Cost of Living ministries as well as other stakeholders.
Dr Dzulkefly said a press release will be released on the development of the Bill soon. It is, however, unclear if the Bill will be tabled in the next Dewan Rakyat meeting, which convenes on Oct 9.
The Bill was tabled for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on June 12 and was referred to the PSSC for a second time for further fine-tuning.
It was first tabled by then Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin last year and had been sent to the committee for fine-tuning due to resistance from several lawmakers.
