Malaysia's cabinet will review a bill this week that would ban smoking for those born after 2005.

According to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, the intergenerational end-of-generation clause of the bill aims to prevent the younger generation in Malaysia from developing the habit of smoking and becoming addicted to tobacco products when they grow up, as well as reducing the number of smokers, which is expected to be 2040 by 2040. less than 5%.

"This will reduce the risk of premature death, chronic disease and treatment costs that must be borne by the government due to the complications of smoking in the community," Jamaluddin said.

Currently, about 40.5% of men and 20% of women in Malaysia smoke.

Carey, who expects cabinet members concerned about tax and tourism spending to oppose the bill, said without the legislation, the government would have to shoulder about 8 billion ringgit ($1.81 billion) in treatment costs for smoking-related health problems .

Vaping products will also be regulated in Malaysia's bill, modelled on New Zealand's legislation, which unveiled in December 2021 a plan to gradually increase the smoking age to cover the entire population to phase out smoking.