SHAH ALAM - A holistic engagement and consultation session by each state needs to be conducted to harmonise the laws related to the sale and use of electronic cigarettes or vapes for public health.
Malaysian Women's Action For Tobacco Control And Health (MyWATCH) president Roslizawati Md Ali said this was crucial to protect the country's human capital from falling into the problem of smoking addiction.
She said the use of electronic cigarette devices (EDS) not only endangers health but also disrupts brain development, damages nerves, causes blood poisoning and affects fetal development, leading to premature births.
"Engagement sessions need to be intensified nationwide because the use of vape has been proven to damage lungs and have side effects on the health of non-smokers.
"This is important to ensure the growth, safety and well-being of the general public in line with the guidelines set out in Article 5.3 of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)," she told Sinar.
On Saturday, the Health Minstry expressed readiness to consider banning the use and sale of vapes in the future, as implemented by several other countries.
Its miniser Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said for now, the ministry was taking steps to regulate the product first under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024.
"Laws and regulations can be reviewed and amended if necessary, for public health.
"The act and regulations that will come into force this month will first be implemented, making smoking products, including vapes, strictly regulated," he told reporters at the Clean, Smoke-Free Premises (BeBaS) 2024 programme at the PD Waterfront in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan on Saturday.
Dr Dzulkefly said any other considerations, including tightening laws and regulations could be considered in the future based on the effectiveness of existing laws and regulations.
Commenting further, Roslizawati said the 2015 National Fatwa Committee's meeting (muzakarah) also decided that the practice of vaping was haram and Malaysia needed to act immediately.
She said the ministry's concern not only helped in curtailing smoking habits but also contributed to fostering a healthier nation.
"As a country that adheres to Islamic teachings, we need to uphold the principles of fatwa and religion to ensure the health and well-being of the public is better guaranteed," she added.