While tabling the bill for the Dewan Negara’s approval, Dzulkefly acknowledged the public’s concerns about the omission of the GEG provisions – which would have prohibited the sale of tobacco and vape products to those born after 2007.

Dzulkefly, who was the former chairman of the parliamentary committee on health which was tasked with fine-tuning the bill, explained that various health ministers worked on the bill before it was finally passed by the Dewan Rakyat on Nov 30. He also said 18 stakeholder engagement sessions and three roundtable discussions were held before the bill was finalised.

“As humans, we can plan… but it is God who decides,” he said.

“I issue a million apologies, and I rightfully submit to you not to reduce the importance (of the bill) and the need for all of you to pass it.

“This is because it has been in the works for a very long time.”

The bill, among others, seeks to ban the sale and purchase of tobacco products, smoking materials, tobacco substitute products, or the provision of any service for smoking to minors.

The Dewan Rakyat passed the bill after tense debate from both sides who expressed disappointment over the removal of the GEG provisions.

Then health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the government decided to remove the GEG provisions from the amended version of the bill as they were unconstitutional.

This was after Attorney-General Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh said the GEG provisions offended the right to equal protection under the law.

However, she stressed that the ministry had not scrapped the provisions. Instead, she said that it was merely being put aside “for now”, and that the government might revive tabling the law if there is a need for it in the future.

While certain quarters have claimed that the health ministry was under pressure by lobbyists not to include the GEG provisions, Zaliha stressed that there were no other factors involved apart from the AG’s view.

At the Dewan Negara today, Dzulkefly also said that while the parliamentary committee on health and the health ministry wanted the GEG provisions to be included in the bill, it was not possible as the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) was of the view that it would violate Article 8 of the Federal Constitution – which guarantees equality before the law.