Who is behind the RM50 million bribe offer to drop anti-smoking law?

We view with utmost seriousness the recent revelation by a former aide to a former health minister, who publicly stated that the minister had been offered a RM50 million inducement to remove the Generational End Game (GEG) provision from the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill.

Although it was claimed that the offer was rejected, the disclosure raises grave concerns regarding the rule of law, public sector integrity, and the legal duties of public office holders.

Any attempt to offer financial inducements to influence the content of legislation constitutes an act of bribery, a serious criminal offence under Malaysian law.

More troubling is the possibility that the failure to report an attempted bribe, even if rejected, may itself constitute an offence, as publicly highlighted by a former health minister in response to this revelation.

This matter directly implicates the Rukun Negara principle of the Rule of Law, which demands that all individuals — without exception — are subject to and bound by the law.

The latest disclosure reinforces earlier reports that representatives of the vape industry lobbied MPs and influenced the removal of the GEG provision.

Taken together, these facts indicate a systemic and organised pattern of industry interference in the formulation of public health policy.

This is no longer a matter of perception, but a clear public interest issue warranting urgent, transparent investigation.

In light of the above, we call for:

1. An independent public inquiry to be initiated immediately by the relevant authorities, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), to investigate:

• The parties who offered the inducement;
• The channels and methods through which the offer was made;
• The reasons for the failure to lodge a report; and
• The extent of industry influence on the legislative process.

2. Full public disclosure of the findings, in line with the principles of transparency and accountability.

These developments expose structural weaknesses in safeguarding public policy from the influence of harmful industries, particularly the tobacco and vape industries.

Accordingly, we urge the government to urgently:
a. enact a Political Financing Act o ensure transparency in political contributions, prohibition of funding from industries whose interests' conflict with public health, and clear and effective enforcement mechanisms.

b. adopt and enforce a Code of Conduct in line with Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), incorporating the following principles:

• Protection of public health policies from tobacco and vape industry interference.
• Full transparency and accountability for all government–industry interactions.
• Minimisation of interactions with industries whose interests fundamentally conflict with public health.
• No preferential treatment for the industry through incentives, exemptions, or policy concessions.
• Robust conflict-of-interest safeguards for all public officials and elected representatives.
• Comprehensive scope, applying to the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.

This issue is not merely about individuals, but a test of:

• The nation’s commitment to upholding the rule of law;
• The integrity of the political system; and
• Malaysia’s dedication to protecting public health and future generations.

Failure to act decisively would send a dangerous message that industry interference and attempted bribery can occur without consequence.

The public has a right to the truth. The law must be upheld. Public health policy must be protected.

Dr Murallitharan Munisamy is president, Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.