Generational EndGame Has Been Tabled At Dewan Rakyat. Here Are 5 Stats M’sians Should Know

This Spotlight is sponsored by the Ministry of Health.

The previous bill was tabled last year, before being referred to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC), where it was scrutinised and debated.

On 26 May, the Cabinet gave the green light for the current Generational EndGame bill, which has taken into consideration the recommended amendments by the PSSC. After being retabled today, the bill has been referred to the PSSC for further fine tuning.

According to current Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, this is to ensure there is proper check and balance, while allowing for any further recommendations to be implemented.

The main goal of the bill is aimed at eradicating smoking among children born in 2007 and the subsequent years. These individuals would be prohibited from smoking or buying any type of smoking product, including electronic cigarettes or vape products, even after reaching the age of 18.

However, the enforcement of laws in relation to smoking devices like vape, tobacco, and other non-tobacco products would come at a later date, whereas conventional tobacco products would be banned the moment the bill is passed.

The national survey found that the use of vaping among teenagers jumped from 9.8% in 2017 to 14.9% in 2022, indicating a 5.1% increase in new teenage smokers.

Vape and e-cigarette culture has become a trend amongst young Malaysians, which is a worrying sign, especially since these forms of smoking are still capable of damaging the body despite being “less dangerous”.

An outbreak of EVALI started in the US in 2019. A total of 2,807 hospitalised cases, including 68 deaths, have been confirmed

The Ministry of Health is currently conducting a monitoring and surveillance of EVALI cases in Malaysia.

EVALI is a severe inflammatory lung illness that can cause hospitalisation, and the disease primarily affects breathing, while also causing abdominal discomfort, fever, and chills.

While the exact cause of EVALI is still unknown, it can result from wrongful use of e-cigarettes or vapes.

Not only does EVALI have serious implications for patients physically, it comes with a big financial burden as well.

In fact, the government is expected to spend as much as RM369 million in 2030 to treat complications related to EVALI.

Research has shown that as much as RM8.77 billion will be spent in 2030 to treat non-communicable diseases caused by smoking complications in Malaysia, which include chronic lung disease, lung cancer, and heart disease.

However, the scary thing is that this projection does not even account for the treatment costs of other smoking complications and diseases, which would bring the total amount even higher.

In a recent media presentation by the Ministry of Health, this statistic showed the magnitude of the Generational EndGame bill’s impact if passed, especially on young Malaysians who will become the main contributors to the country’s economy.

Nowadays, parents have even more reason to be worried about the safety of their children. With smoking products becoming easily accessible online, in retail stores, and even vending machines, young Malaysians are at risk of being exposed without laws like the Generational EndGame bill to keep them in check.