PARLIAMENT | A motion to debate the suspected acute nicotine poisoning of a two-year-old girl in Pahang will take place in Parliament’s Special Chambers at 2.30pm today.
Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Ramli Mohd Nor approved the motion submitted by Zulkafperi Hanapi (PN-Tanjong Karang) filed on June 8 under Standing Order Clause 18(1) and (2), which allows MPs to request permission to debate matters that are "urgent and of public importance”.
Zulkafperi (above) said the matter needed to be urgently discussed as nicotine was not regulated under any legislation, after its exemption from the Poisons Act.
He added that the matter was of public interest as it could be abused by anyone, including babies, children, schoolchildren, women, or pregnant women.
“The community out there may believe that nicotine is safe to use and does not pose any danger.
“This motion must be expedited as nicotine is freely sold in the market and there is no legislation regulating it,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Ramli approved the motion to be debated in the Special Chambers.
This led to Zulkafperi asking why it could not be debated in the Dewan Rakyat, citing public interest.
Ramli responded that the decision was final.
Legal loophole
The Health Ministry issued a statement last week that a two-year-old girl had suffered acute nicotine poisoning in Bera, Pahang on May 30.
On the day of the incident, the child’s grandfather found her coughing, vomiting, and having difficulty breathing, while a disposable electronic cigarette (vape) device was found on the floor near her.
“A result of a urine test showed the presence of a high level of nicotine. The electronic cigarette device which was found has been sent to the laboratory for further testing,” it said.
The exemption of liquid nicotine from the Poisons Act created a legal loophole where sales and purchases of the product are no longer regulated under any law.
It was reported that Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa had signed off on the nicotine exemption to pave the way for vape liquids including those containing nicotine to be taxed beginning April 1.
The exemption was done even before the government tabled the Tobacco Control Bill, which Zaliha had vowed to expedite its tabling.
The move had since received criticisms from many health experts and groups, including the Malaysian Medical Association, which raised concerns that vape containing nicotine can be sold in the public domain legally, and with no control to prohibit the sale of these items to minors. - Mkini
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