The highest law in Malaysia is the Federal Constitution, which recognizes the fundamental rights of all Malaysians. If we do not focus on this matter, the validity of the law will be questioned, says R. Paneir Selvam

The Consumer Choice Center (CCC) recently organized an online webinar titled Ending Generation Endgame, Rules of Law and the Constitution.

The aim of this webinar was to examine and evaluate the Federal Constitution’s rule of law regarding the essence of the generation endgame.

According to the representative of the Malaysian Consumer Choice Center, Tarmizi Anuwar, individual freedom for consumers in the Federal Constitution was not given serious attention in the implementation of this generation endgame.

“Very little was discussed about fundamental rights or individual freedom in this matter. Until recently, Tun Zaki, the former Chief Justice, also touched on the issue of individual freedom in his statement. We can have many laws enacted, but what is more important is whether the law aims to achieve the goal of justice and equality”, he said.

The main panel for this webinar was R. Paneir Selvam, the principal consultant for the think tank Arunachala Research & Consultancy Sdn. Bhd. (ARRESCON).

In the discussion, Paneir said that the validity of the law could be questioned if the drafting of the law does not take into account the basic rights of consumers.

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THE validity of the law can be questioned if the drafting of the law does not take into account the basic rights of consumers.

A case in point is the Tobacco and Smoking Products Control Bill 2022 which culminated in the Generation End Game (GEG) has somehow curtailed the right of consumers to choose with the state apparently controlled consumer choices and actions.

“(If this happens), it is not impossible that the way we cut our hair and wear it will also be controlled in the future. This is a dangerous precedent and a wrong move by the Government,” opined Arunachala Research & Consultancy Sdn Bhd’s principal consultant R. Paneir Selvam.

“The highest law in Malaysia is the Federal Constitution which recognises the fundamental rights of all Malaysians. If we do not focus on this matter, the validity of the law will be questioned.”

According to the think tank founder who was the main panellist at the online webinar entitled Ending Generation End Game, Rules of Law and the Constitution organised by the Consumer Choice Centre (CCC) Malaysian chapter, the law enacted must uphold the principle of equality and consumer rights must be prioritised.

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In a move that sent waves across South and Southeast Asia last week, Thailand’s Public Health Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul iterated that the importation and production ban on vaping products will continue, depriving Thai smokers of provable alternatives to quit.

Harm-reducing alternatives to combustible cigarettes, including vaping devices, heated tobacco, and oral pouches, provide nicotine in a less harmful fashion, according to most major health bodies, but the minister was insistent that the rising use of these products by young people was enough to warrant their continued ban.

While nicotine alternatives remained banned, the minister has been praised for his efforts to decriminalise cannabis products, and rightly so. 

But the continued prohibition on nicotine alternatives such as vaping, however, is a dangerous path that removes opportunities for Thailand’s large population of smokers — currently estimated at nearly a quarter of the population, some 15.4 million people. 

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Pusat Pilihan Pengguna (CCC) telah menganjurkan satu forum secara dalam talian bertajuk Generasi Penamat: Langkah Tepat atau Menjerat, baru-baru ini.

Forum itu dianjurkan bagi mendapat pendangan dan membincangkan isu terkini berkaitan Akta Kawalan Tembakau dan Merokok yang bakal melarang individu yang lahir dari tahun 2007 untuk memiliki, membeli dan mengguna produk rokok termasuk rokok elektronik.

Menurut wakil Consumer Choice Center Malaysia, Tarmizi Anuwar, pelaksanaan Generasi Penamat Tembakau adalah satu tindakan yang terburu-buru dan seharusnya mengambil kira pelbagai sudut bagi memastikan ia adalah satu usaha yang akan berjaya dengan cemerlang.

“Pendapat pakar dalam bidang terutamanya saintifik dan kesihatan harus diambil kira. Oleh kerana itu, kamu menganjurkan sesi perkongsian ilmiah ini bagi membincangkan dan melihat isu ini dalam skop yang lebih luas,’ katanya.

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