Media

CodeBlue | The deregulation of liquid nicotine contravenes the right to health which falls fall under the right to life. Citing international conventions ratified by Malaysia, Edmund Bon submitted in court, “I’m inviting, my Lord, to extend the definition of Article 5 [of the Federal Constitution] for the first time to include the right to health as a right that is logically an integral part of life itself.”

Scoop | The high court here today was told that with the passing of the smoking control bill last week, vendors cannot sell smoking products to minors. Three NGOs, represented by counsel Edmund Bon, have filed a judicial review application to quash part of the Poisons (Amendment of Poison List) Order made by the Health Ministry and to seek a declaration that the impugned order is void.

The Sun | Three NGOs filed a judicial review application to quash the order made by the Health Minister to remove nicotine from the list of controlled substances. Counsel Edmund Bon submitted that the newly passed bill controlling smoking products has yet to be ratified into law by the Dewan Negara. There is as yet no law against the sale of liquid nicotine products to children.

Focus Malaysia | Counsel Edmund Bon, representing three health-related NGOs, pointed out that at the time of Health Minister Dr Zaliha’s decision on March 31, there was no law forbidding the sale of nicotine-containing vapes and e-cigarettes to children.

Free Malaysia Today | Lawyer Edmund Bon said that the Health Minister’s decision to declassify liquid nicotine as a scheduled poison had failed to take into consideration the rights of children or the country’s obligations under the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Earlier media reports had highlighted that candy laced with nicotine was being sold openly to children.

CodeBlue | Anti-tobacco groups argued in the High Court here today that passage of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 was irrelevant to the declassification of liquid nicotine from the Poisons List. Counsel Edmund Bon said that we cannot rely on any statements by the government in relation to this judicial review proceedings because nothing is certain.

Malaysiakini | Counsel Edmund Bon represented the three NGOS behind the judicial review — the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control, the Malaysian Green Lung Association, and Voice of the Children. He argued that the Health Minister’s decision would lead to the sale of nicotine-containing vape and e-cigarettes to children because there was no law forbidding it, pending the Dewan Negara’s deliberation on the new bill.

The Edge Malaysia | CJ Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat reminded lawyers to refrain from making comments that would distort events — the hearing was not about undermining the shariah courts, but simply about the competency of the Kelantan Legislative Assembly to enact impugned provisions. The Malaysian Bar, represented by Edmund Bon, and Sisters in Islam’s counsel Fahri Azzat, supported the petition.

Free Malaysia Today | Peguam Malik Imtiaz berhujah, dua set hukuman – mengikut undang-undang persekutuan dan enakmen syariah Kelantan – terhadap orang Islam bersifat “diskriminatif”. Orang Islam didakwa di bawah enakmen itu tidak dapat memanggil saksi bukan Islam bagi membantu pembelaan. Badan Peguam dan Sisters in Islam menyokong pempetisyen dan diwakili Edmund Bon dan Fahri Azzat.

Free Malaysia Today | Two women wants the Federal Court to declare 18 provisions contained in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019 as null and void. Lawyers Edmund Bon and Fahri Azzat, appearing for the Malaysian Bar and SIS, told the court they supported this petition because the state assembly has no power to enact the 18 provisions. The Federal Court reserved its ruling.