Vaping may have initially been perceived as a safer alternative to smoking, but its dangers are undeniable. It's time to shift the narrative and treat vaping with the caution it deserves.
Parent groups and a PIBG demand passage of the tobacco bill with GEG to combat youth vaping. They also say MOE shouldn't just focus on punishment, as nicotine is very addictive, but other agencies should ensure vape isn't easily accessible outside school.
Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii urges MPs to support the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill – a "sensible policy strategy" – in a guest essay for CodeBlue that addresses concerns with punishment, discrimination and economic impact from GEG.
Lukanisman Awang Sauni says some MPs now feel that the RM500 fine in the 2023 tobacco bill for the GEG group is too low, besides concerns about community service. The initial RM5,000 fine in the 2022 bill was deemed by the 14th Parliament as excessive.
Vape products are very accessible online to Malaysian youths. Facebook is used for retail; some vape products marketed contain toxic nicotine levels at 120mg/ml. Foodpanda lists vape stores for online delivery. TikTok advertises the vaping lifestyle.
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.
Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 moots max RM500 fine/ community service for offences of smoking/ purchase of smoking products by GEG group (personal possession not an offence); some enforcement powers exclude personal GEG offences.
We urgently need laws which protect children from vaping and e-cigarettes through restricting sales to over-18s only, limiting nicotine content, refill bottle and tank sizes, labelling requirements, and through advertising, promotional and marketing restrictions.
Vaping is not just about nicotine addiction, but the trap of #VapeLife for Malaysian youths. Three young adults explain how they switched from conventional to e-cigarettes, vaping for years due to flavours and the vaping lifestyle.
The Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 must be passed and implemented to protect our vulnerable youth before another generation of smokers is enslaved by nicotine.