The Malaysian government has announced plans to outlaw smoking and create a tobacco-free generation by banning the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products to citizens born after 2005 in a bid to outlaw smoking and create a tobacco-free next generation.
The law, if passed, would make it impossible for anyone under the age of 17 to buy tobacco in Malaysia in their lifetime.
In a meeting this week with officials at the World Health Organization, Malaysian Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said he plans to present the Tobacco and Smoking Control Act to parliament soon and to pass the legislation later this year.
“Malaysia would like to highlight the negative impact of tobacco on NCDs [non-communicable diseases], which is well-known,” he said. “If successful, [it] will bring about a generational end game to smoking… Malaysia feels this will have a significant impact in preventing and controlling NCDs.”
Malaysia is not the only country working to make the next generation smoke-free. As of December, the government of New Zealand announced plans to effectively ban tobacco sales to anyone born after 2008 by raising the smoking age every year from 2027, according to a law expected to be enacted later this year
Government statistics estimate that 4.9 million Malaysians smoke cigarettes. The statistics released by health officials show that 1 in 5 adults smokes and that there are 27,000 smoking-related deaths every year.
As part of its campaign to fight tobacco use, the Malaysian government is promoting a smoke-free generation by pushing for tighter controls and penalties on the sale of tobacco products and cigarettes.
In Malaysia, nicotine-containing vaporizer liquids are no longer available since 2015. After global health studies highlighted the risks associated with e-cigarettes and vaping, the country considered banning all new vape devices and products in 2019.
It is illegal to smoke in restaurants, public spaces like hospitals, airports, schools, and government buildings, as well as public transport in Malaysia, however, enforcement is often lax with many simply ignoring the laws.
Malaysia to ban cigarettes for anyone born after 2005
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