With the historically efficient way in which state governments have banned the sale of vaporisers and their e-juice (liquid nicotine) practically overnight, vaporiser vendors have pretty much given up the fight. It is hard for them to argue back, especially when members of the royalty have made statements against it.

I will not comment about sultans influencing or determining our laws, as in this country that would be more hazardous to my health than smoking 10 packs of cigarettes a day. Rather, I’m writing to ask that some level-headedness and support by the opposition be given in pushing back against unsubstantiated and reactionary policy-making.

There is little more that needs to be said by me other than quoting what the UK government’s Public Health authority has to say in its 2015 report:

“While vaping may not be 100 percent safe, most of the chemicals causing smoking-related disease are absent and the chemicals which are present pose limited danger. It has been previously estimated that EC (electronic cigarettes) are around 95 percent safer than smoking. This appears to remain a reasonable estimate.”

(Source: Public Health England)

In the UK, the sale of vaporisers and e-juice is legal. This is a health policy backed up by research. There is little reason for Malaysia to buck the trend, especially when we have little credence when it comes to more obvious issues like the bauxite mining pollution.

I acknowledge that vaping may be harmful, whatever its extent. But the act and sale of vaping is a choice, one which we should not take away from people arbitrarily. Further, unless we do the same with cigarettes, what we have now is inconsistent policy on nicotine consumption.

Where our state governments are enacting health policy based on sentiment and statements by religion-cultural sources, instead of proper scientific evidence, one must surely realise that it is inconsistent and reactionary policy making that we cannot ignore.

With little time to get rid of their existing stock, many young entrepreneurs are forced to cut their prices and suffer great losses. The reactionary actions of our state governments, contrary to public health policy of more advanced countries, have resulted in injustice to these vendors who have taken the initiative to expand their income, as a certain minister has encouraged.

Mostly small and fragmented, vaporiser vendors do not have the legal teams and financial war chest of Big Tobacco to push back.

It is easy to understand why little has been said in their defence. The wrong committed against the traders is not as easily understood a straightforward issue as corruption. Nor do pictures of large plumes of smoke on every news headline (mostly just water vapour) help deter emotional sentiment of the public against them. But an act of injustice has nevertheless been committed against these small vendors, whatever your views are.

It may be vaporisers today, but something else tomorrow which you are selling. That would depend on who you have offended or how they perceive you, rationality be damned. The current events, if allowed to continue, will certainly set a dangerous precedent for the future of policy-making.