Reverse decision on delisting nicotine, MMA tells PM

 

MMA president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai hoped the prime minister would change his mind as it is for the benefit of the people. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to reverse the government’s decision to delist nicotine from the Poisons Act 1952.

MMA president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai responded to Anwar’s statement in the Dewan Rakyat today, where he said he does not mind flip-flopping on public policies if it brought benefits to the people.

“For the sake of the people’s health, especially the health of our younger generation, the MMA hopes the prime minister will flip-flop this time and relist nicotine under the Poisons Act immediately,” he said in a statement.

Ads by Kiosked

Muruga also called on all medical and pharmaceutical associations to put pressure on the government.

He added that if the government was truly committed to the passage of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 after understanding the dangers of nicotine addiction and poisoning, it would not have deleted nicotine from the Act.

In March, the government decided to exclude liquid or gel nicotine from the Poisons Act 1952, a move that drew a backlash from doctors, pharmacists and consumer groups.

The Malaysian Pharmacists Society said it would lead to an increase in the use of e-cigarettes and vaping.

Meanwhile, the MMA was concerned that there would be no control to prohibit the sale of nicotine vape products to children, an opinion echoed by the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy.

Yesterday, health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said in the Dewan Rakyat that the bill had been referred to the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on health.

Ads by Kiosked

She said PSC members, MPs, professional bodies and NGOs had demanded some matters under the bill be further reviewed during an engagement session last week.

This is the second time the bill has been referred to a PSC, after it was first tabled by then health minister Khairy Jamaluddin last year.

The proposed law seeks to ban the use, purchase and sale of cigarettes and vape products to people born after 2007. - FMT