GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) is urging the parliamentary special select committee (PSSC) to pay heed to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's call for the people to support the Control of Tobacco Products and Smoking Bill 2022.
CAP education and anti-smoking activist N.V. Subbarow said it was about time for the PSSC to make a wise decision on the new bill, which was sent to them so they could look into its enforcement clauses.
"CAP fully supports the call by the king to educate the young in adopting the best health practices to avoid things that can be detrimental to their health. It is the best advice. The king is very concerned about the health of the future generation.
"CAP, however, is disappointed with certain members of Parliament, who are taking the 'wait and see' attitude towards the bill, also known as the tobacco generational endgame (GEG) bill," he said.
At the launch of the National Institute of Health (NIH) Complex in Setia Alam yesterday, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah said he was proud of the government's effort in protecting and preserving the health of future generations through the tabling of the bill in the Dewan Rakyat.
The king felt that the matter was a noble endeavour and hoped that all Malaysians would give their support so that this bill could be studied and scrutinised.
To date, Subbarow said more than 20 countries, mostly in South America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, had banned the sale of e-cigarette products. He said Thailand also had strict laws.
"Many young people who do not smoke traditional cigarettes are taking up vaping and e-cigarettes, which have more than 16,000 flavours. Vaping may be driving the increase in nicotine usage among teens.
"In a CAP survey, it was found that more young children, including girls in primary and secondary schools, have been addicted to vape and e-cigarettes, while smoking among youths is on the rise.
"These children and youths are spending more money on vaping than food or books," he added.
Subbarow said CAP's recent survey also discovered that many children thought vaping with e-cigarettes was like eating lollipops due to the fruity flavours of the vape liquids, and they did not know or care about the dangers to their health.