KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 – Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has suggested that the Control of Tobacco Products and Smoking Bill 2022 be referred to a parliamentary select committee (PSC).
Anwar, who is also Port Dickson MP, said the suggestion was forwarded in a letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the Leader of the Dewan Rakyat this afternoon.
“I have also sent a motion under Standing Order 54(1) and 54(2) to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker (Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun) about the matter,” he said in a Facebook post today.
In his motion to Azhar, Anwar said the bill needed to be referred to the committee so that it could scrutinise and review issues regarding constitutional enforcement as well as matters related to the implementation of control of tobacco products and smoking.
“The committee should comprise of a number of MPs representing all parties, led by the Health Minister.“For the purpose stated above, the committee can invite any party, including MPs, legal and constitutional experts, non-governmental organisations and civil society, as well as other individuals to attend the sitting,” he said.
Meanwhile, during the debate session, two MPs agreed with Anwar’s suggestion that the bill should be referred to the committee.
Dr Kelvin Yii (PH-Bandar Kuching), who is also the Health, Science and Innovation Special Select Committee chairman, said that they agreed in principle with the bill but the committee felt that the bill should be reviewed from various angles besides public safety.
Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz (BN-Padang Rengas) meanwhile said he agreed with the suggestion to refer the bill to the committee to fine-tune and consider other aspects before being passed.
The Control of Tobacco Products and Smoking Bill 2022 was tabled for the second reading by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin at the Dewan Rakyat today.
He is expected to wind up the debate for voting when the debate session continues tomorrow.
