"We as policymakers are at an important juncture. Once in a while, we will be presented with a decision, the consequences of which will be felt for many, many years to come. I believe this is one of them."
Tanjong Karang MP Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi submits a motion to the Speaker to debate the nicotine poisoning case of a toddler from vape, saying MOH's delisting of liquid nicotine can cause public misperceptions that nicotine is safe, leading to careless use.
In a June 1 letter to the PM, copied to several DAP MPs' email addresses, the Malaysia–Singapore Coffeeshop Proprietors’ General Association stated its opposition to the proposed generational smoking ban and proposed ban on cigarette displays in retail.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urges all countries, including Malaysia, to protect their citizens, especially children, from e-cigarettes and vape, dismissing the tobacco industry's claim of harm reduction with such products. "It actually is a trap."
A WHO official urges Malaysia not to treat vape and other nicotine products separately from conventional cigarettes, but to regulate them together as part of tobacco control. He also moots billing the industry for cigarette butt/ disposable vape pollution.
Dr Zaliha Mustafa says Cabinet will discuss the tobacco & vape bill this Friday. If the bill gets Cabinet approval, she will seek to table it in June. The health minister adds that she's working with party whips to get backbenchers to support the bill.
While Australia bans disposable vapes and puts prescription vape in "pharmacy-like packaging" with flavour-free, plain packaged vapes, Malaysia uses a free-for-all vape strategy. Will the tobacco & vape bill end Malaysia's cruel April Fool's nicotine joke?
In a CodeBlue poll of 31 MPs on both sides of the aisle, nearly half at 14 MPs – 6 (PH), 2 (BN), 1 (Muda), 1 (PBM), 4 (PN) – openly support the tobacco & vape bill. 15 MPs – 9 (PH), 1 (BN), 1 (Warisan), 4 (PN) – reserve their stand pending bill's tabling.
Prof Dzulkifli Abdul Razak says nicotine is highly addictive, on par with heroin and cocaine. More girls are vaping. Today, after the delisting of liquid nicotine, vaping is the new normal for children who were non-smokers.
MCTC, an umbrella anti-tobacco body of 41 organisations, says it had "little success" in getting the government, including Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, to reconsider the "poorly thought out move" of delisting liquid nicotine for taxation purposes.