The bombshell has been dropped and CAP wants an RCI

Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) urges the government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) concerning the recent revelation that tobacco and vape industry players had lobbied Members of Parliament (MP) in the Parliament House, defiling its sanctity as a place where laws are to be enacted in the national interest.

The tobacco and vape industry had clearly violated the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Article 5.3 states explicitly:
“In setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, Parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law.”

We want to know why Malaysian policymakers allow the industry to influence the outcome of the proposed Generational End Game (GEG) Bill.

Malaysia ratified the WHO FCTC in 2005, close to two decades ago, and yet this can happen in the very sanctum where laws are passed.

It is an absolute shame and a subversion of the legislative process.

This should not be in any way tolerated.

We are grateful that the Deputy Health Minister, Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni admitted that the tobacco and vape industry players had met with Members of Parliament (MPs) in the parliament itself to lobby for the exclusion of GEG.

He has finally confirmed this incident that has been in the grapevine since October 2023.

These lobbyists are like drug merchants (by the way, nicotine is also highly addictive) lobbying MPs to legalise something that will eventually destroy the youth and the nation.

Unfortunately, there are some policy makers who are complicit in this grand scheme of things, excluding the GEG to serve the agenda of the lobbyists who want to continue addicting Malaysians for many generations to come so that they can profit from it.

In view of the current developments, we reiterate our call for the government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on this matter of national importance.

We want to know the extent of ‘infiltration’ and ‘influence’ of the lobbyists on our MPs.

We also want to know who are behind the sabotage of GEG.

Unless this corruption of the Parliamentary process is prevented, it will open the door for external forces, including foreign governments, to influence the government to serve their agenda.

Further, we call on the Parliament to amend the Control of Smoking Product for Public Health 2023 Act to reinstate the GEG components without any delay.

Mohideen Abdul Kader
President
Consumers Association of Penang

Press Statement, 20 March 2024