Read articles from Malaysia

July 18, 2023 by galencentre.org

Advertising and sale of vape liquids, supposedly with cannabidiol (CBD), proliferate in Malaysian groups on Facebook and Telegram, even though cannabis derivatives are illegal under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. The widespread online distribution of e-liquids with so-called “CBD” – a marijuana compound that does not cause a high – complicates efforts by police authorities to crack down on adulterated e-cigarettes, especially after the federal health regulator, the Ministry of Health (MOH), removed liquid nicotine from control under the Poisons Act 1952.

July 13, 2023 by SAYS

[...] on a global scale, the World Health Organisation (WHO) projects that a billion people will continue to smoke by 2025.  In light of these worrying numbers, governments around the world have been taking various measures to tackle this persisting issue. From smoking cessation programmes to awareness campaigns, these efforts are carried out to help smokers kick the habit once and for all.

With all these ongoing developments, the concept of tobacco harm reduction is becoming an option for countries looking to reduce the prevalence of smoking

June 26, 2023 by galencentre.org

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa has put the onus on parents to protect their children from e-cigarettes and vape, after the government declassified liquid nicotine for taxation purposes.

Dr Zaliha also admitted the existence of a “lacuna” in the law following the removal of liquid and gel nicotine from control under the Poisons Act 1952 – which she herself had gazetted last March 31 – that legalises the sale of vape and e-cigarettes with nicotine to minors aged below 18. “MOH also calls on parents to be more vigilant to ensure the safety of their children and to not expose their children to risky activities, such as smoking and using e-cigarettes or vape. [...]

June 20, 2023 by tobaccoreporter.com

Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) in Malaysia are amplifying calls for the reintroduction of liquid nicotine into the Poisons Act 1952.

Kuala Langat MP Ahmad Yunus Hairi, who heads Perikatan Nasional’s health portfolio, said the absence of regulations on vape has led to a proliferation in the number of teens using e-cigarettes or vaping products.

“By excluding liquid nicotine from the Poisons Act, we have inadvertently created loopholes that undermine our efforts to combat the use of vaping among our youth.

June 15, 2023 by freemalaysiatoday.com

Vaping is still considered “haram” or forbidden for Muslims, religious affairs minister Na’im Mokhtar told the Dewan Rakyat.

The use of electronic cigarettes and vaping was detrimental to one’s health, he said. He said the four prominent schools of Islamic jurisprudence stated that Muslims were forbidden from consuming ingredients that were harmful to their health.

“Thus, based on a fatwa (religious edict) issued by the National Fatwa Council in 2015, the use of electronic cigarettes and vape is haram. Muslims are forbidden from using it.”

June 12, 2023 by freemalaysiatoday.com

PETALING JAYA: A health think tank has slammed the government for its failure to prioritise the health threat of vape and electronic cigarette products.

The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy said prioritising the growth of the country’s vape industry, which is valued at RM3 billion, and looking to gain tax revenue from it would be “pointless” if it came at the cost of a surge in nicotine addiction among the people, especially youths.

June 07, 2023 by galencentre.org

The Control of Smoking Product for Public Health Bill 2023, an incredibly complex piece of legislation, proposes delayed prohibitions on vape and heated tobacco products for anyone born from 2007.

However, bans on conventional cigarettes will come into effect immediately for the cohort born on or after January 1, 2007, also known as the generational end game (GEG) group, should the bill be approved by Parliament. According to a slide presentation by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on the tobacco bill [...] the Control of Smoking Product for Public Health Bill separates conventional cigarettes (cigarettes, cigars, tobacco leaves, rolled cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco) from cigarettes with heating devices

June 01, 2023 by galencentre.org

Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai has called on all MPs to make the health of Malaysians their highest priority by voting in support of the Control of Smoking Product for Public Health Bill 2023, which will be tabled in June. [...] “We now have the opportunity to save the younger generation and generations to come from the dangers of smoking and vape addiction. My wish for Malaysia on World No Tobacco Day this year is to see a Malaysia free from the harmful effects of smoking and vaping products,” said Dr Muruga Raj.

May 26, 2023 by therakyatpost.com

Smoking has been a hot topic for Malaysians in recent years. And since the government announced that they were going to ban the use and sale of anything smoking-related — including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, shisha, e-cigs and vapes — to people born after 2007 with hopes of stopping future generations from picking up the habit, many have argued that a prohibitory Generational Endgame (GEG) policy might create more problems than it solves.

May 22, 2023 by therakyatpost.com

As the popularity of vaping continues to rise, governments worldwide are grappling with how to regulate this relatively new industry.

In Malaysia, lawmakers are considering legislation regulating the sale and use of e-cigarettes and other vaping products.

Proponents of vaping argue that it is a healthier alternative to smoking.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), smoking is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide, responsible for over 8 million deaths annually.

Dr Colin Mendelsohn, an expert on smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction, said vaping, on the other hand, is less harmful than smoking and can help smokers quit.