THE government should not deliberately delay passing the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 due to fear of repercussions in the state elections, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said.

Its president, Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai, said it was disturbing to hear such rumours following Putrajaya’s decision to once again refer the bill to the parliamentary special select committee (PSSC).

“MMA finds it disturbing to hear of rumours that the bill is being deliberately stalled over fears the ruling coalition may lose support, particularly among younger voters in the elections in six states,” he said.

“The public is also theorising on social media that the tobacco and vape industry could be pressuring the government to give in to their demands on the bill.

“We believe there is no truth to these claims. However, the government must do more to prove it is prioritising the health of all Malaysians by giving urgency to the tabling of the bill for passage in parliament in the current session.

“Any further delay will be seen by the people as a lack of concern by the government on serious issues affecting public health.”

Yesterday, the Health Ministry’s decision to refer the bill to the PSSC raised doubts if it will be passed in the current parliamentary session.

Following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s remark in the Dewan Rakyat earlier today that he is willing to do an about-face on any government decision as long as it benefits the people, MMA called on the former to walk the talk.

“We refer to the statement by the prime minister in parliament today, that he will ‘flip-flop’ on decisions if it benefits the people,” it said.

“So for the sake of the people’s health, especially the health of our younger generation, MMA hopes the prime minister will flip-flop this time and relist nicotine under the Poisons Act immediately.”

MMA also urged all medical and pharmaceutical associations to put pressure on the government to relist nicotine under the Poisons Act.

“If the Health Ministry was truly committed to passing of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill and understanding the clear and present dangers of nicotine addiction and poisoning, it would have not removed nicotine from the Poisons Act before the tabling of the bill,” it said.

“We heard yesterday from the Health Ministry how dangerous nicotine exposure is to health.

“In the parliament’s special chambers, the health minister revealed that a 16-year-old girl with a three-year vaping history had died from acute heart failure in a probable e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury case.”

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa also revealed that a two-year-old girl, suspected to have ingested liquid nicotine either via inhalation or swallowing of the vape liquid from a disposable vape, suffered seizures at a paediatric intensive care unit in Temerloh, Pahang.

It was reported that the toddler suffered neurological problems with disturbed motor and speech functions.

The minister also said 77 cases of nicotine exposure from e-cigarettes or vape had been reported until 2015.

“Not surprisingly, in this year alone, seven cases of nicotine poisoning were reported, including five among children,” said Muruga Raj.

“Despite all these data and the fact that the e-cigarette and vape industry remains unregulated, the Health Ministry went ahead with removing nicotine from the Poisons Act.

“The health minister has admitted that the move to exempt nicotine from the Poisons Act last March 31 was to enable collection of excise taxes on nicotine liquids and gels used in e-cigarettes and vaping devices. It is disappointing indeed that tax collection took precedence over public health concerns.” – June 13, 2023.