KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) has urged the Health Ministry to conduct nationwide raids on outlets selling nicotine products without obtaining licences under the Poisons Act 1952.
MPS president Amrahi Buang said the nationwide raids would serve as the "right remedial action" while the country waits for the Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill to be passed.
"MPS is supportive of this bill better known as Generation End Game bill (GEG) that seeks to ban the use, possession and sale of cigarettes and vape products for those born after 2007 ever since the proposal was presented.
"MPS also accepts the delay in passing the bill, as mentioned by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin at the Dewan Rakyat earlier after the bill's second reading.
"While the delay would see the GEG bill return to a newly appointed Parliament Select Committee to further improve the bill, there is no reason for the Health Ministry to not conduct checks and raids on vape outlets," he said in a statement today.
Amrahi said under the Poisons Act 1952, nicotine is classified as a Class C poison that can only be procured and dispensed by licensed pharmacists and medical practitioners.
However, he said, vape outlets do not employ pharmacists or doctors in accordance to the regulation.
"The last publicised raid on vape premises was done way back in November 2019, long before Malaysia entered its Covid-19 pandemic phase.
"It is the right remedial action via nationwide raids since public wellbeing has been taken for a ride for several years now while we await for the GEG bill to be passed," he added.
Khairy, on Tuesday, told Dewan Rakyat that the GEG bill will be referred to a parliamentary special select committee (PSSC). The committee, he said, would also have to provide its recommendations on the legislation within a month.