He said the ministry has incorporated the majority of the recommendations by parliamentary select committees (PSCs).
Fines will be reduced from RM5,000 to RM500 with community service as an option instead of a fine at the discretion of the courts, he said in a Twitter posting.
Anyone under 18 years old will not be subjected to a body search and no punishment will be meted for possession of controlled tobacco-related articles listed in the bill.
“With these concessions, the majority of recommendations by both PSCs have been incorporated as amendments to the bill,” he said.
The two committees are the PSC on health and the PSC on women, children affairs and social development.
This morning, health select committee chairman Dr Kelvin Yii called for the plan to be postponed by three years, saying the new proposed law should only be enforced after an assessment is completed and debated in Parliament.
The Tobacco and Smoking Control Bill was tabled last week. It seeks to ban the sale of cigarettes, tobacco, and vape products to anyone born after 2007.
Khairy had said on Saturday that convictions under the bill would not lead to a criminal record, with offenders only compounded a maximum RM50 fine.
Khairy tabled the Tobacco and Smoking Control Bill for its second reading and debate in the Dewan Rakyat today. MPs had mixed reactions to the proposed law.
Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak), supporting the bill, called on all MPs to vote in favour. He said MPs should not be afraid of any political backlash that could arise, adding that political gain should not be favoured over saving lives.
“There is no price to saving lives,” he said. “If we have a clear conscience, we will definitely not object to efforts to save lives.”
Kelvin Yii (PH-Bandar Kuching) said he remained “on the fence” over supporting the bill. He said a good enforcement network and framework was needed to ensure the tobacco and smoking ban was well implemented.
He urged the health ministry to provide more time for MPs to scrutinise the bill and work on its provisions, He urged the health ministry to “trust the science” rather than push for a ban in haste.
Nazri Aziz (BN-Padang Rengas) said he was against the bill as it infringes on personal liberties. He said the ban would have grave consequences on freedom of choice if passed.
He also expressed concern over an increase in court cases involving youth who wish to contest penalties against them due to the ban.
The debate on the bill will resume tomorrow.