KUALA LUMPUR – Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad has denied any influence by the vape and tobacco lobby on the cabinet and government.
“The question raised is one I think is not right, that the influence of the industry and lobby groups had extended to the government and cabinet, I think this is wrong.
“It is wrong, wrong in terms of fact, and wrong with regard to what the deputy minister said, I have checked the matter,” Dzulkefly (Kuala Selangor-PH) said in the Dewan Rakyat during question time today.
He spoke on Lukanisman’s (Sibuti-GPS) answer last week that vape and tobacco industry players had engaged MPs on anti-smoking laws, saying such engagement was a “given” in any mature and democratic Parliament.
“Bona fide stakeholders have the right to meet and engage MPs.
“But to extend the influence of the industry to the government, this is wrong.”
Dzulkefly called the making of such a claim “regrettable” and said he had to give an explanation to his staff this morning at the ministry’s monthly assembly.
The minister was responding to a question by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar-Muda) who asked about Lukanisman’s answer in Parliament last week, where the deputy health minister had admitted to “pressure from the industry, with industry (members) entering Parliament and meeting with MPs” on the Generational End Game (GEG) provisions in the anti-smoking bill last year.
Syed Saddiq in a supplementary question had asked why Lukanisman’s remarks last week differed from the government’s official line that the GEG provisions were unconstitutional according to the attorney-general’s advice.
Dzulkefly, who was appointed health minister in December last year after the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 had been passed by the Dewan Rakyat the month before, said today the government had originally wanted to retain GEG provisions but followed the AG’s advice.
“That’s it (the only reason). There is no issue with lobby groups as perceived or as assumed,” the minister said.
Earlier today, the Consumers’ Association of Penang called for a royal commission of inquiry into Lukanisman’s claims. – March 20, 2024