The Malaysian Consumers Movement (MCM) welcomes the recent raids by the Health Ministry on vape stores nationwide confiscating vape liquids and e-cigarettes containing nicotine, justifying the action under the same laws as tobacco products, including the implementation of excise tax.

The MCM further commends the health minister for his efforts in recommending that vapes and e-cigarettes be banned, an effort which was eventually shot down by the cabinet. Perhaps the health minister, being a medical doctor himself, appreciates better the health hazards posed by this new trend than his colleagues.

Enforcement by the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry should follow suit, as many websites and vape parlors promote e-cigarettes as an alternative to nicotine addiction, marketing them as effective smoking cessation devices. This is a misleading claim, which warrants immediate action. E-cigarettes are widely and openly sold at night markets, online, and at gift shops. There are also shops specifically selling e-cigarettes.

Given an increase in the number of consumers, vaping is fast gaining a strong foothold in our society. This trend is largely attracting youth, gaining importance even among those who were non-smokers in the first place. It is sad when stakeholders misleadingly promote it as a legitimate alternative to smoking cigarettes, when it is not! It is even more harmful than conventional smoking.

The cabinet’s decision seems to be positioned to meet the needs of the younger generation rather than protecting them from a potential health hazard. The looming question is, do we want a generation that is medically unfit and who live in denial?

Studies have shown that one hour of vaping was equivalent to smoking 150 cigarettes. E-cigarettes not only contained the 87 cancerous substances in conventional cigarettes but also produced formaldehyde, which is used to preserve corpses. Why than are the legislators dragging their feet over this very critical issue?

E-cigarettes have been banned in Singapore, Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Qatar, Seychelles and Turkey. We should follow suit.

The MCM urges the government to immediately ban vape and e-cigarettes while the opportunity to stop it from the beginning is still there. Regulating it and later campaigning against its usage is sheer hypocrisy. It may be tempting to generate tax revenue but public health should never be compromised.

As people ourselves, we need to be more cautious of our lifestyles. Smoking imposes dangers and vaping is not necessarily an alternative.

DARSHAN SINGH DHILLON is president, Malaysia Consumers Movement (MCM).