LETTER | The Malaysian Singapore Coffeeshop Proprietors’ General Association (MSCSPGA), which represents over 20,000 coffeeshop operators in Malaysia, is requesting the new government to conduct proper and thorough engagements with everyone who will be impacted by the generational end game (GEG) smoking bill.

“We understand the government’s intention in tabling the GEG bill in June. Unfortunately, for the GEG bill, we have yet to be consulted by the government and we shared our concerns earlier this year, but we’ve not received any feedback.

“We think the bill should be reviewed by the recently appointed parliamentary special select committees on health as well as domestic trade, entrepreneurship, cost of living, and agriculture,” said MSCSPGA president Wong Teu Hoon.

With the GEG bill, retailers will become the frontliners in implementing the GEG bill but we are also questioning whether the government has allocated adequate resources for the enforcement.

We’ve seen similar issues with firework-related enforcement in recent years and it is a seasonal activity during festive seasons only. If this bill is passed, do we have the resources to support the bill or it will fall back to the retailer’s responsibility?

Currently, the sales of legal tobacco products in retail shops make up 30 percent of total revenue. The GEG will impact the revenue of retail shops at a time when the country is preparing for an unprecedented global recession.

In Malaysia, close to 60 percent of tobacco products in the market today are all illegal and we strongly believe it will worsen the illegal trade in Malaysia if enforcement continues to be an issue.

The retailers are also concerned about the penalties listed under the GEG where any retailer caught selling cigarettes to a person in the GEG generation will be fined a minimum of RM30,000 or face imprisonment of up to three years or both.

GEG is not as easy to implement as the minimum age for selling cigarettes or alcohol. This law is different because the GEG generation will get older every year.

We are supportive of the Health Ministry’s agenda in reducing the number of smokers in Malaysia. All we ask is to be consulted and for our views to be heard.

In line with Malaysia Madani’s core values to increase SME resilience, we hope to be invited to share our opinions.

Therefore, a comprehensive consultation, briefing, and impact study should be held with retailers as we improve the GEG bill together.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.