Generational Ban was enacted solely to win an award: Ziyad

Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyad has claimed that the "Generational Ban" law was enacted solely for President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to secure an international award.

Speaking on RaajjeTV’s "TV Talk" program, Ziyad asserted that the law was drafted solely to win an award and to claim individual credit for the initiative. He questioned both the timeline for the law's implementation and the authority responsible for its oversight. Furthermore, Ziyad expressed skepticism regarding the law's feasibility, stating that it is unlikely to ever be successfully implemented.

The most absurd example is the talk of a "generational ban." This was nothing more than a self-serving attempt to win an award, claiming to be the sole architect of this so-called generational initiative. There have been many such instances.

Hussain Ziyad, Member of Parliament for the Vaikaradhoo constituency.

The Generational Ban Bill was passed by the People's Majlis during the 30th sitting of its first session for the year 2025, held on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The bill was subsequently enacted into law and came into effect on November 1, 2025.

Under this law, effective January 1, 2026, the use, purchase, and sale of tobacco will be prohibited for all children born in the Maldives from that date forward, as well as for all future generations.

Furthermore, the importation and possession of all machinery and equipment used to manufacture tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and vaping devices, along with any related accessories, are strictly prohibited. The law also encompasses additional provisions concerning these regulations.