GEORGE TOWN: The possible removal of nicotine from the Poisons Act 1952 is a very big mistake, the Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) said today.
It said such a move would result in more people becoming addicted to nicotine.
CAP anti-smoking activist and education officer N. V. Subbarow said they were worried that Malaysian youths would become nicotine addicts rather than drug addicts if nicotine was removed from the Poisons Act.
"We are opening a path for our children and youths to become nicotine addicts by removing nicotine from the Poisons Act. As such, CAP doesn't understand the logic behind this move.
"Removing nicotine from the Poisons Act before passing the Tobacco and Smoking Products Control Bill will give children unhindered access to vape products containing nicotine, which will lead to a new generation of children and young people becoming addicted to nicotine.
"Now, there are thousands of children already addicted to vapes and e-cigarettes, which are sold widely and available to this group. Their parents are worried about their children's future."
Malaysian Medical Association Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai claimed that the association had learnt that nicotine was being removed from the list of controlled substances under the Poisons Act.
He had claimed that the move was imminent and was expected to be carried out by the first week of April.
Following that, the medical association had sounded the alarm over a possible move to remove nicotine from the Poisons Act.
Subbarow said problems related to the use of vapes and e-cigarettes had long been voiced by the community through non-governmental organisations and professional bodies.
He said what was more worrying was when the government announced its intention to tax nicotine-laced vape liquid, and, at the same time, to exempt nicotine-laced vape liquid from the Poisons Act 1952 without a clear control over vape and e-cigarettes.
He said until today, they had not seen the government's efforts to control these dangerous products through the Tobacco and Smoking Products Control Bill, which was still pending.
"This matter is very regrettable because the government will clearly allow the sale of e-cigarettes legally without any mechanism to control vapes and e-cigarettes, which are now widely sold even to children.
"This issue will have huge implications, especially for people from the Bottom 40 group, who have been burdened with the problem of smoking and now e-cigarettes.
"The habit of vaping and using of e-cigarettes in rural areas is frightening," he added
Based on the Adolescent Health Survey conducted by the Health Ministry, there is an increase in vape and e-cigarette users among teens aged 13 to 17 years, from 9.8 per cent in 2017 to 14.9 per cent in 2022.
"Therefore, CAP strongly opposes the exemption of nicotine from the Poisons Act until the Tobacco and Smoking Products Control Bill is presented and approved.
"Until then, CAP calls for the tax on e-cigarettes to be postponed," he said.