PETALING JAYA: The tabling of the revised Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 should be postponed, says the Federation of Sundry Goods Merchants Associations of Malaysia.
“Our main concern is how the Generational End Game (GEG) Bill will be implemented. This was never discussed with any retail players, and we are the frontliners to implement the proposal,” said its president Hong Chee Meng.
“We do not know if retailers would be asked to check the MyKad of each adult born after 2007.
“We also do not know if there will be a digital application like the MySejahtera app that each smoker must use each time they buy cigarettes or vape products,” he said in a statement yesterday.
The Bill, which was tabled for its first reading on June 12, will be tabled for its second reading in Parliament next Tuesday.
Hong said the federation is concerned that the implementation of GEG would lead to members being fined heavily since the revised Bill may include higher fines for suppliers.
“There are no details on how this will be implemented and each retailer will be at risk.
“Also, what happens if there are those who use fake IDs or even pay a personal shopper to purchase the products (for them)?
“We aren’t sure how retailers will be penalised in such circumstances either,” he added.
Hong said there was no briefing by the Health Ministry or any discussion with the retail sector on all these issues.
“We suggest that the GEG provisions be put on hold first until the ministry comes up with a plan.
“The government should focus on simplifying the procedure to conduct business and not introduce more complex policies.
“This GEG proposal is very complicated and it creates complexity for the business.
“With all the economic uncertainty, this is the time when businesses need to be supported by the government... and not be imposed with burdensome procedures,” he added.
It was learnt that fines for suppliers under the GEG ban on tobacco and vaping would be increased under the current Bill although lower fines were proposed for buyers or consumers in the GEG group.
A maximum fine of RM500 or community service was proposed under the Bill during its first reading in June for anyone born from 2007 caught smoking or vaping, using or purchasing tobacco or vape products, as an alternative, without any criminal record.
When tabling the revised Budget 2023 on Feb 24, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had said nicotine vape liquids were still illegally sold with an estimated RM2bil or more in sales.
Therefore, the government had proposed a tax on nicotine-based products used in electronic cigarettes, with half of the excise duties channelled to the Health Ministry in support of the GEG Bill.
