The Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC) has called for an immediate public inquiry following allegations that a former Health Minister was offered a RM50 million bribe to remove the Generational End Game (GEG) provision from the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill.
In a media statement, MCTC President Professor Dr Murallitharan Munisamy said the revelation — made publicly by a former aide to the former minister — raises serious concerns about the integrity of Malaysia’s legislative process and the rule of law, even though the alleged inducement was said to have been rejected.
“This is not a political issue, but a matter of law and national integrity,” he said, stressing that any attempt to offer financial inducements to influence legislation constitutes bribery under Malaysian law.
Dr Murallitharan added that the alleged failure to report the attempted bribe could itself amount to an offence, citing public commentary by a former health minister following the disclosure. He said the matter directly implicates the Rukun Negara principle of the Rule of Law, which requires that all individuals are subject to the law without exception.
The council said the latest allegation reinforces earlier reports that representatives from the vape industry had lobbied Members of Parliament and influenced the removal of the GEG provision, which aimed to prohibit the sale of tobacco and vape products to individuals born from a specific year onwards.
“Taken together, these facts indicate a systemic and organised pattern of industry interference in public health policymaking,” Dr Murallitharan said, adding that the issue has moved beyond perception and now constitutes a clear matter of public interest.
MCTC has urged the relevant authorities, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), to initiate an independent and comprehensive public inquiry to investigate the alleged bribery attempt.
The council said the inquiry should examine the identities of those who allegedly offered the inducement, the channels through which the offer was made, why no report was lodged, and the extent of industry influence on the legislative process. It also called for full public disclosure of the inquiry’s findings in the interest of transparency and accountability.
Beyond the immediate allegations, MCTC said the case highlights broader structural weaknesses in protecting public policy from the influence of harmful industries, particularly tobacco and vape companies.
The council renewed its call for the enactment of a Political Financing Act to ensure transparency in political donations, prohibit funding from industries that conflict with public health goals, and establish clear enforcement mechanisms.
It also urged the government to adopt and enforce a code of conduct aligned with Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which calls for safeguarding public health policies from tobacco industry interference. Such a code, MCTC said, should apply across the executive, legislative and judicial branches, include strict conflict-of-interest safeguards, and minimise interactions with the industry.
Dr Murallitharan said the allegations represent a critical test of Malaysia’s commitment to the rule of law, political integrity and public health protection.
“Failure to act decisively would send a dangerous message that industry interference and attempted bribery can occur without consequence,” he said.
“The public has a right to the truth. The law must be upheld. Public health policy must be protected.”
