Zaliha told the House that the second reading will be done tomorrow.

She also retracted the previous version of the bill, which was tabled in June and had sought to ban the use, purchase and sale of cigarettes and vape products to those born after 2007.

The initial bill, dubbed the Generational End Game or GEG bill, was tabled by Zaliha’s predecessor Khairy Jamaluddin in 2022. It was retabled in June after the formation of the unity government following the 15th general election.

The government later said the bill was being reconsidered because of objections that it was unconstitutional.

Attorney-General Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh said the proposed smoking ban would offend constitutional guarantees of equal protection under the law, adding that this had been his department’s stand on the issue from the start.

In a posting on X today, Zaliha described the tabling of the revised bill as a “historic moment” given that it is the first bill that aims to regulate tobacco products.

“This is a comprehensive bill to regulate the use of vape and electronic cigarettes, which are being more widely used in our country, and to overcome the existing legal loopholes.

“May this bill be finalised and unanimously passed during this final Parliament sitting for the year,” she added.

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