Dr Zaliha Mustafa tells parents to protect their children from e-cigarettes and vape, after the health minister delisted liquid nicotine last March 31, legalising the sale of nicotine vape to minors aged below 18. "Parents should be good role models".
The government must prove it prioritises the health of all Malaysians by giving urgency to the tabling of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill.
Dr Zaliha Mustafa says a 16-year-old girl, with 3-year vaping history, died last June 5 from acute heart failure with pulmonary embolism in a probable EVALI case. In a separate nicotine poisoning case of a 2-year-old, she now has neurological problems.
Prof Dzulkifli Abdul Razak writes that pending passage of the tobacco bill, thousands of Malaysian children aged 6-12 years risk becoming vape-aholics, through no fault of their own, due to the delisting of liquid nicotine.
Prof Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, recipient of the Tobacco Control Icon Award 2023, says #WorldNoTobaccoDay 2023 is the darkest in WNTD's history in Malaysia after the liquid nicotine delisting. "Enough of forsaking the health of the rakyat, especially the underaged."
Dr Milton Lum highlights the evidence on the impact of vaping. He says Malaysia is highly unlikely to achieve its tobacco control targets (15% smoking prevalence by 2025, <5% by 2045), with the delisting of liquid nicotine and unregulated e-cigarette use.
Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa says the Control of Smoking Product for Public Health Bill 2023 will enable the enactment of regulations on vape flavours and packaging to deter youth vaping.
Prof Dr Dayang Anita Abdul Aziz says smoking parents increase the risk of empyema thoracis in children, and warns that nicotine poses gender-specific risks, such as serious birth defects, menstrual cycle changes, and fertility issues in women.