Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong related how he was able to buy an electronic cigarette shaped like a children’s toy.
“I purchased it online after the enforcement of the new law began on Oct 1,” he told a special chamber of the House, Berita Harian reported.
“I believe many children are attracted to it because it is sold in various shapes. Some are even made to look like food containers … and they smell nice,” he was quoted as saying.
Khoo, who is with DAP, was speaking at a special chamber session on measures to regulate the vape business.
The Tobacco Products Control for Public Health Act 2024, enforced from Oct 1, regulates the registration, sale, packaging, and labelling of tobacco products as well as prohibits smoking in public places.
The law includes a ban on online and vending machine sales of smoking products.
Khoo said online sellers use various tricks to continue selling electronic cigarettes.
“If you search for the word ‘vape’, you won’t find anything but they use other tricks, like changing the spelling to ‘wape’,” he said.
He said the law can only be effectively enforced if the health ministry focusses on ensuring sufficient public awareness about it, strengthens its implementation, and improves enforcement.
He also suggested that the health ministry collaborate with the education ministry to prevent children from smoking and vaping.
In response, health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said his ministry has prepared a five-year advocacy plan to protect children, adolescents and other non-smokers from taking up smoking and to remain smoke-free throughout their lives.
He said the plan also helps smokers to quit by providing smoking cessation services, adding that the ministry’s personnel have visited 56,517 premises this year to educate the public about the dangers of smoking. - FMT
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