Should MPs declare ties to tobacco and vaping industries?

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Members of Parliament Should Declare Ties to Tobacco and Vaping Industries

Civil society groups, including the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM), are urging politicians to sign Statutory Declarations (SD) to demonstrate that they are not unduly influenced by the tobacco and vaping industries. This call stems from concerns that vested interests might be shaping policy decisions, particularly in relation to the Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill 2022, also known as the Generational End Game (GEG) Bill. The groups advocate for transparency and the exclusion of financial conflicts of interest in the legislative process concerning tobacco control.
Call for Statutory Declarations to Ensure Independence

Dr Murallitharan Munisamy, Director of NCSM, has directly questioned whether politicians possess personal stakes in the smoking industry, suggesting that an SD would serve as a public affirmation of their independence. This initiative aims to ascertain that legislative decisions are based on public health concerns rather than commercial affiliations. The broader sentiment among health activists is that all Members of Parliament (MPs) should openly declare any existing connections to smoking or vaping companies to foster trust and accountability.
Disappointment Over Referral to Parliamentary Select Committee

Civil societies have expressed significant disappointment following the decision to refer the Anti-Tobacco Bill to a parliamentary select committee (PSC) on August 2, after its tabling the previous week. This referral has been interpreted as a delay in implementing crucial public health measures. The groups are advocating for the inclusion of qualified professionals in any adjustments to the Bill, emphasizing that these individuals must be financially independent of the industry and possess relevant professional expertise.
Adherence to WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

The push for transparency is also grounded in international commitments, specifically Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This article mandates that parties protect their public health policies from the commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry. Civil society groups stress the importance of upholding this principle to ensure that legislation is formulated with the primary objective of safeguarding public health.
Support for Soft-Landing Approach with Fact-Based Decisions

While supporting the government's adopted "soft-landing" approach to the enforcement procedures of the GEG Bill, representatives like Dr Murallitharan and Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah from the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) have reiterated the call for MPs to base their decisions on factual evidence regarding the detrimental health impacts of smoking. The GEG Bill itself aims to prohibit smoking and vaping for individuals born from 2007 onwards. The PSC, chaired by Khairy Jamaluddin, is expected to present proposed amendments within one month, taking into account various suggestions.

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Should MPs declare ties to tobacco and vaping industries?

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