‘Save the lives of children'
Business as usual: A vape shop operator checking on vape products displayed on the rack. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star
KLANG: The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has appealed to Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to ban the sale of vape products in the state.
In a statement issued yesterday, its education officer N. V. Subbarow pleaded with the Ruler to 'save the lives of children'.
'CAP is urging His Highness to help prevent children from becoming involved in the dangers of vaping,'' he said.
He added that vapes contain poison and drugs.
Subbarow issued the appeal after Selangor allegedly failed to take a firm stand on the banning of the sale of vapes and electronic cigarettes.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said on Tuesday that discussions were still ongoing with stakeholders, including vape business owners, before any decision is made.
He added that the state government is also working on guidelines to implement the proposed ban without leaving any loopholes.
This follows earlier reports suggesting that Selangor may follow in the footsteps of Johor and Terengganu, which have banned the sale of vapes and electronic cigarettes.
According to CAP, the Selangor government's current position could endanger youths and schoolchildren.
'Our talks in Selangor schools have shown that more students are becoming addicted to vaping, which contains nicotine and harmful drugs.
'Many teachers are complaining that students' behaviours have changed due to their vaping habits,'' he added.
He said it was alarming to learn that many girls were also being drawn into the vaping trend.
Subbarow claimed that the Selangor government appeared more concerned about the impact a ban could have on vape businesses and their workers.
He said the youth's health should come before the vape industry's interests.
He said vape products must be banned immediately to stop them from continuing to destroy young lives.
'We do not want our children to become drug addicts and face a bleak future,' he said.
'His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor must take immediate action to safeguard the youth, ensuring they have the opportunity for a healthy and active future,' he added.
In April, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad had said that state governments have the authority to ban the sale of vape or e-cigarattes, through local councils.
He explained that states are empowered by local regulations to control the sale of such devices within their jurisdiction, adding that there were instances where states had withheld licences from vape traders
At the Federal level, the sale of vape products is governed under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which came into force in phases beginning Oct 1 last year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
High-rise tragedies show a systemic failure to ensure child safety, says children's commissioner
PETALING JAYA: Recent fatal falls from high-rise buildings involving children reflect a prevalent failure to prioritise their safety in the home, says the Suhakam children's commissioner. Dr Farah Nini Dusuki said such cases could have been prevented with proper safety measures in place, coupled with awareness and enforcement of safety regulations. "These back-to-back tragedies are not isolated accidents," she said in a statement on Friday (June 6). ALSO READ: Safer high-rises for kids "They are preventable deaths that starkly expose the failure to implement essential safety measures in high-rise residential buildings. "These children did not have to die," she added. She said the recent cases were a direct consequence of a systemic failure to prioritise child safety where it matters most – in the home. "As a party to the (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child, Malaysia is duty-bound to protect every child's right to life, development, and protection from foreseeable harm. ALSO READ: Four-year-old boy dies after fall from 30th-floor of Bukit Jalil apartment "A safe home environment is not a luxury. "Providing a safe home environment is a legal and moral obligation," she said. Her remarks follow the death of a four-year-old boy who is believed to have fallen from the 30th-floor balcony of an apartment in Bukit Jalil on Thursday (June 5) morning. On May 21, a seven-year-old girl fell from the 29th floor of a condominium in Puchong, Subang Jaya. On May 17, a boy aged two years and eight months died after falling from the seventh floor of a public housing unit in Precinct 9, Putrajaya. ALSO READ: Seven-year-old girl dies after falling from Puchong condo The Star had previously highlighted the dangers posed to children living in high-rise buildings and suggestions by child activists on how to better ensure their safety. Dr Farah called in both Federal and state authorities, including stakeholders, to urgently implement measures to prevent further tragedies. Among them, she said, were enacting specific laws to enhance child safety in high-rise residential buildings. "This includes making it mandatory for all apartment and flat units, including rental units, to be equipped with safety grilles or protective mesh on windows and balconies. "Additionally, minimum safety design standards for child-friendly high-rise units must be established under existing building laws or regulations," she said. ALSO READ: Boy dies in fall from seventh floor of Putrajaya housing block At present, under the Uniform Building By-Laws 1984 (UBBL), balcony railings of residential high-rise buildings cannot be less than 1m or 1,000mm in height, but local authorities can impose stricter requirements. However, it is mandatory for window grilles to be installed in residential high-rise buildings under the UBBL, although it could be regulated by the building's management or voluntarily installed by the owners. "Current building design for child safety standards must be reviewed and integrated as mandatory requirements in all high-rise residential developments," Dr Farah said. She also called on local authorities to conduct regular and strict compliance inspections of high-rise units, especially rental properties, to ensure compliance with child safety standards and features. "To all parents, while we push for reforms to take place, in the meantime, vigilance is key. "If you live in a high-rise residence, never leave young children unattended, and ensure safety measures are installed," she added.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Free health checks for seniors
Some 200 attended the first leg of the Selangor Senior Citizens' Health Programme 2025 at Beringin Hall in Selayang. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star THE Selangor Senior Citizens' Health Programme 2025 will be held at 22 locations across all nine districts in the state, with around 2,700 senior citizens expected to participate. Selangor public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the free programme brought healthcare services to the community. 'This provides better healthcare access to the elderly, especially in detecting the risk of frailty and preventing serious health complications. 'The programme can also help assess various aspects of a senior citizen's health, like muscle and grip strength as well as potential mobility issues. 'At the same time, they can receive exercise and diet advice,' she said when launching the programme at Beringin Hall in Selayang. Jamaliah said three districts in Selangor – Kuala Langat, Sepang and Kuala Selangor – were among the 11 districts identified as ageing by the Statistics Department last year. 'One of the factors contributing to this situation is increased average life expectancy. 'However, this increase does not necessarily mean an increase in the quality of life among senior citizens. 'It could be due to advancements in healthcare services and medical technologies. 'Therefore, it is important for us to pay thorough attention to the daily health of senior citizens so that they can continue to lead a meaningful life. 'A longer life means nothing if senior citizens are not healthy and require constant help from others,' she said. Jamaliah also urged senior citizens to undergo regular health screenings to detect diseases early. 'I have met some senior citizens who are unwilling to know about their health status, as they are afraid of what the results will be. 'However, not knowing does not mean there are no issues. 'Our health may deteriorate without us realising, and it will become irreversible after we are hit by serious illnesses like stroke,' she added. The programme is part of the 'Healthy Ageing: Preventing Frailty Among Elderly' project that has been carried out by Selangor government and BeVital Humanitarian Relief Organisation since 2023. During the event, some 200 took part in activities such as health screenings, tests on their gait and speed, grip strength as well as exercises specifically designed for senior citizens. They were also provided with resistance bands and diaries so they could continue exercising at home and record their progress. BeVital founder Dr Ahmad Munawwar Helmi Salim urged senior citizens to continue exercising regularly. 'You may be facing the problem of frailty today, but if you continue exercising and controlling your diet consistently, you will see changes to your health,' he said. Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, who was also present, participated in some of the activities and interacted with the aged folk. When asked about future dates and venues of the programme, a spokesperson said details were still being finalised and would be announced at a later date.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Penang to meet vape industry before deciding on possible sales ban
GEORGETOWN: The Penang government will engage with vape industry players before making any decision on a potential ban on the sale of vape products in the state. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state government had received a letter from representatives of the vape industry regarding the matter. "They wanted us to hear them out, and we are prepared to do so. "I have instructed the relevant state executive council member to meet with them and listen to their concerns," he told reporters today, adding that the letter was received recently. Last month, State Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi told the state legislative assembly that Penang might consider imposing a statewide ban on the sale of vape products next year if enforcement under the new smoking control law proves ineffective. The Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which came into force on Oct 1 last year, aims to strengthen regulations on the sale, advertising, and promotion of all smoking products, including e-cigarettes and vape, across Malaysia. The Act specifically targets individuals under the age of 18, prohibiting them from selling, purchasing or using any smoking product by any means. Chow added that Penang was not the only state considering a statewide ban on the sale of vape products. He said several other states were also exploring the same move. "Of course, we are aware of the health risks associated with the irresponsible use of vape products. "However, there are other issues we need to consider. Imposing a ban will have various consequences and may not effectively address the social problems related to the underground sale of vape products. "As such, we need to study the matter carefully before making any decision," he added.
