Pas Youth Vape U Turn Undermines Govt S Anti Addiction Pledge

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PAS Youth has questioned the government’s commitment to addressing drug and vape addiction, following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent remarks urging for solutions to the long-standing issue.
Its exco member Faizzuddin Zai pointed to what he described as inconsistent government policies, particularly the delisting of nicotine as a controlled substance without corresponding legislative safeguards.
“In 2023, the PKR health minister approved the removal of nicotine liquids from the Poisons Act 1952.
“This move, made without a proper legal framework for regulation, effectively allowed the open sale of nicotine vape products - even to teenagers,” he said in a statement.
He argued that the decision contradicted Anwar’s stated commitment to tackling addiction and instead fuelled further access to addictive substances.
Rising usage
Anwar on Wednesday noted a rising usage of drugs and vapes among Malay youths, as he called for collective action and urged over 1,000 educators gathered for a nation-building seminar to set a good example.
Contrary to Anwar’s call, Faizzuddin echoed criticisms surrounding a decision to drop the Generational End Game (GEG) clause from the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023, which sought to prohibit tobacco and vape sales to individuals born after 2007.
Prior to the passing of the Public Health Bill in 2022, 14.9 percent of youths aged 13–17 in the country were reported to be vaping, up from just 9.8 percent in 2017.
The GEG clause was scrapped over concerns it would result in unequal treatment based on year of birth.
However, Faizzuddin said such an argument was flawed and inconsistent.
“Many existing laws already differentiate based on age without being deemed discriminatory, including for driving licences and bank transactions,” he said.
He added that other countries with strong human rights records, including the United Kingdom, New Zealand and cities in the United States, have already moved forward with birth-year-based smoking bans.
In defending the move, then health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the GEG provisions were dropped as the Attorney-General’s Chambers had deemed it to be “unconstitutional”.
Projected increase
Faizzuddin further cited data from the Health Ministry showing the treatment cost for a single case of evali (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury) could reach RM150,000 over a 12-day hospital stay.
PAS Youth exco member Faizzuddin ZaiWithout effective control measures, vape-related healthcare spending is projected to rise to RM369 million per year by 2030.
He said the government also spends an estimated RM16 billion a year treating smoking-related illnesses - a figure that far exceeds revenue collected from tobacco taxes.
In light of this, PAS Youth is urging the government to review its current policies and reinstate the GEG policy as part of broader tobacco control efforts.
“This is crucial to ensure that our public health policies are aligned with long-term preventive goals, fiscal responsibility, and the protection of our younger generations,” said Faizzuddin.
Last month, a group of civil society organisations and concerned individuals renewed calls for Putrajaya to impose a total nationwide ban on e-cigarette and vape products, after several states, including Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu, took independent steps to regulate or restrict vape sales.
Among those who endorsed the call are Dr Amar Singh HSS, the Chow Kit Foundation, Liga Rakyat Demokratik, child rights activists Siti Rahayu Baharin and Hartini Zainudin, Persatuan Sahabat Wanita, and the Association of Women Lawyers. - Mkini

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