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Daily Express
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Express
Docs speak up for safer smokeless tobacco, nicotine usage
Published on: Thursday, July 24, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 24, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: 'How can we convince those in power that this consumer-led public health revolution can lead to real-world change?' asked Mark, who hosted the first public event on vaping in Vancouver in 2018. WARSAW: Everything possible should be done to increase smokers' access to tobacco harm reduction initiatives and increase the acceptance of such products, make them as easy to get as possible so as to get as many people off cigarettes. However, Prof. Dr Mark Tyndall, a professor at the University of British Columbia, and previously Director of the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, said this is not happening. Speaking at the 12th Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN 2025) at the Warsaw Presidential Hotel from June 19 to 21, he said consumer advocates and tobacco harm reduction campaigners face significant challenges engaging lawmakers and public health organisations, including structural opposition to safer nicotine products. 'How can we convince those in power that this consumer-led public health revolution can lead to real-world change?' asked Mark, who hosted the first public event on vaping in Vancouver in 2018. 'I think the future of safer tobacco products is promising, but it's taking far too long and we really need to find ways to speed up this transition that I think will inevitably occur, but there's things that we can do right now.' He said based on his experience community activism is extremely important. 'We need to encourage and get people who have started to vape and people in the community who can really advocate for themselves and have a voice. 'If you have a heart attack, you see a cardiologist. If you have lung cancer, you'll see an oncologist. If you have bad COPD, you'll see a respirologist. They don't really think for one minute about prevention. 'They're really focused on helping people in their current situation and don't really look at the big picture of prevention. 'But the point is we've really created a whole medical infrastructure around treating these chronic illnesses due to smoking, and nobody's in a big hurry to change it. 'Also, tobacco control organizations aren't in a big hurry to change things, so they've really had decades of working on abstinence-based programs.' He said when safer products became available, they were constantly cautious, but now instead of starting to discuss the possibilities of how these could help people and help people's health, they just continue to double down. 'And now, 10 or 15 years into it, it's really hard for these tobacco control organizations to take a big breath and say maybe we were wrong all along, and that's probably not likely to happen because then people would ask, well, what else have you been wrong about for the last 10 or 15 years? 'So there's a lot of credibility at store there, and it's very hard, I think, for people to change course when they've doubled down and dug in so deep against these safer products.' He said in many countries tobacco companies aren't allowed to say that vaping is safer and that's a huge problem as far as getting the message out there,' Prof. Dr Mark Tyndall said. He remains committed to seeing an end to combustible cigarettes through vaping and other low-risk nicotine products. His book, 'Vaping Behind the Smoke and Fears', was launched at the occasion. Malaysia is one of those countries where it is not permissible to say that vaping is safer than smoking. It is well established that nicotine does not cause smoking-related diseases, which result instead from the inhalation of toxicants in tobacco smoke. Vapes, pouches, pasteurised snus and heated tobacco products (HTPs) all deliver nicotine without combustion, leading to substantially reduced health risks in comparison to continued smoking. These alternative products to cigarette smoking should be encouraged as substitutes for smokers who can't quit. The new regulations to enforce Malaysia's Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which replaced the previous version, now also include vape and e-cigarettes equally under expanded and updated controls. Vape and e-cigarettes are treated similarly to cigarettes and tobacco products. Malaysia currently spends an estimated RM16 billion annually treating smoking-related illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and lung cancer. Public access to alternative smoking products should be encouraged as preventive measures to minimise smoking-related illnesses. Dr Carolyn Beaumont said: 'We shouldn't need to put our reputation on the line, risk media censure and medical board discipline amid false accusations of being beholden to the tobacco industry. "But as a doctor, that's exactly what I've experienced. No wonder tobacco harm reduction isn't attracting more health professionals.' She hopes the voice of health professionals continues to play a leading role in promoting Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR). Not only doctors, pharmacists, nurses, dentists, social workers, psychologists, to name a few. 'The impact a single health professional can have on helping many smokers is remarkable,' she said, adding although they won't easily get media or politicians on side any time soon, 'we must focus on educating health professionals about tobacco harm reduction.' It's simply about offering smokers more solutions, about acknowledging that many don't want to give up nicotine and that they're sick of being lectured to and judged by doctors. 'I'm not telling doctors to ignore existing replacement therapies. I'm simply telling them there's another extremely effective tool in the toolbox. I want to briefly talk about the future of nicotine products, in particular nicotine pouches. 'And all I can say about this is three things. Innovate, regulate, educate. Whatever helps a smoker quit has to be considered seriously, and not just dismissed as yet another tobacco industry ploy to addict the next generation. 'We could remain open to new nicotine technologies and at the same time ensure they remain regulated and as safe as possible,' Dr Carolyn Beaumont. Paddy Costall said the aim is to win over medical professionals one at a time.
Daily Express
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Strong Sabah presence at event
Published on: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 23, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: A view of an IEW 2025 session at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK). KUCHING: The International Energy Week (IEW) 2025 was held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on July 15-17. Dubbed 'Borneo's Biggest International Energy Expo & Summit', it saw the participation of some 6,500 attendees from 25 countries and 400 companies from 30 countries. There were 50 speakers and 435 delegates who participated in 20 curated sessions focused on sustainability and energy transition. Among the Sabahans participating at the event include Tseu Kei Yue, the Director of the Sabah Department of Industrial Development & Research under the Ministry of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship of Sabah, Energy Commission of Sabah Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Planning & Economic Regulation, Ir. Chu Wai Quan, besides others. Chu was a panel speaker in one of the Summit sessions. Daily Express sent four staff to cover the event. A Sabahan from Tawau, Kenneth Yong, the Senior Sales Director for Measat Satellite System Sdn Bhd, was one of the exhibitors at the event who recognised the Daily Express brand value and spoke eagerly with its staff. Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg officiated at the opening ceremony on July 15. His message was that the world is watching and Sarawak is ready to lead to redefine the future of energy and make a lasting impact on global sustainability. He said: 'IEW 2025 marks a key milestone in Sarawak's clean energy journey. As one of Asean's lowest carbon emitters in the power sector, we are accelerating efforts in hydropower, green hydrogen, solar energy, and carbon capture and storage (CCS). 'These initiatives align with our vision to position Sarawak as a leading clean energy hub, powering economic growth, bolstering regional energy security, and supporting our neighbours in their sustainability ambitions.' IEW Organising Committee Chairman Datuk Dr Hazland bin Abg Hipni said, 'We are building a resilient, low-carbon economy through renewable power, green industries, and responsible resource management.' Dr Hazland who is Sarawak's Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability said IEW 2025 is Sarawak's premier platform for energy dialogue, innovation, and collaboration, promoting sustainability, energy transition, and investment growth in Borneo and in the Asia Pacific region. 'As we drive forward our Green Energy Agenda, Hydrogen Economy Roadmap, and renewable energy initiatives, Sarawak is establishing itself as a leader in energy innovation in line with Sarawak's Sustainable Vision 2030,' he said. Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Mamat, the Informa Markets Malaysia organising chairman of IEW 2025 said the event reinforced Sarawak's growing role as a regional hub for renewable energy, hydrogen and green technology. He said: 'Sarawak's clean energy transition serves as a model for others.' Meanwhile, the second Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK 2) project, costing over RM300 million, will be built and completed in March, 2028. Its site is next to the current BCCK. The BCCK 2 to be built is a strategic initiative by the Sarawak government to strengthen Kuching's role as a major hub for conventions and international events in the region. BCCK2 will be able to accommodate up to 9,500 people, when combined with the existing BCCK, will be able to host up to 15,000 visitors as a competitive world-class infrastructure, in line with Sarawak's post-2030 development direction. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
22-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Wait and see on Ambalat
Published on: Monday, July 21, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 21, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: Kota Kinabalu: Shell and Conoco officials are not aware of any plans to explore the 'Ambalat' region south of the Tawau Basin reported to hold significant natural oil and gas deposits. Twenty years ago in 2005, Shell and national upstream company Petronas Carigali signed production sharing contracts for two deep-water blocks – Blocks ND6 and ND7 in waters up to 4,000 metres deep off Sabah on disputed acreage that overlaps blocks awarded to Unocal by Indonesia. Before that, in 2002, the International Court of Justice awarded the islands of Sipadan and Ligitan in the Celebes Sea area of Ambalat, to Malaysia. But it did not establish delimitations in the surrounding waters. Shell and Petronas Carigali were awarded joint operatorship of the two deep-water tracts with each holding 50 per cent equity. Subscribe or LOG IN to access this article. Support Independant Journalism Subscribe to Daily Express Malaysia Access to DE E-Paper Access to DE E-Paper Exclusive News Exclusive News Invites to special events Invites to special events Giveaways & Rewards 1-Year Most Popular (Income Tax Deductible) Explore Plans Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
22-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Express
12th Global Forum on Nicotine experts fault WHO inaction
Published on: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 22, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: WARSAW: The World Health Organization (WHO) was taken to task for its refusal to recognise scientific outcomes that prove alternative nicotine products help some 1.3 billion smokers in the world quit the habit, or transition to a less harmful to their health options. This view was shared by many expert participants at the 12th Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN 2025) that was held in Poland at the Warsaw Presidential Hotel from June 19 to 21, 2025. They were scientists and doctors among other professionals. It was reported that smoking causes some 8 million deaths around the world. It is well established that nicotine does not cause smoking-related diseases, which result instead from the inhalation of toxicants in tobacco smoke. High quality independent evidence supporting the role of safer nicotine products in smoking cessation is growing. Vapes, pouches, pasteurised snus and heated tobacco products (HTPs) all deliver nicotine without combustion, leading to substantially reduced health risks in comparison to continued smoking. There was consensus that fear-driven narratives about safer nicotine products means prolonged misery and death for smokers as pervasive misconceptions about safer nicotine products and their role in smoking cessation could see tobacco harm reduction fail to fulfil its huge potential. The Global Forum on Nicotine is organised by Global Forum on Nicotine Limited, an events company committed to providing a platform for global public health debate, knowledge exchange and networking, underpinned by the principles of inclusiveness and multi-sectoral engagement. It does not receive sponsorship from manufacturers, distributors or retailers of nicotine products including pharmaceutical, vaping and tobacco companies. Conference-supporting organisations endorse the event, but have no financial or administrative involvement in organisation of the event. According to Riccardo Polosa, professor of medicine at the University of Catania in Italy, the World Health Organization (WHO) is actively misleading the public about the relative risk of nicotine products compared to cigarettes on purpose. 'They select their references and distort the evidence. There is one single objective, in my opinion, which is to create their own science that supports the abstinence-only narrative,' he says. 'But this has terrible consequences for millions of smokers who would otherwise switch to much less harmful products. In the clinical world, this would be called negligence,' he said, in a special session marked 20 years of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), in which leading voices examined the treaty's impact. 'The FCTC has succeeded politically and legally,' said Jeannie Cameron, a policy consultant. 'But if we measure success by reductions in smoking and tobacco-related deaths, it has failed.' 'We still have over a billion smokers worldwide. The FCTC was meant to reduce cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory disease,' said Derek Yach, a former WHO director. 'Tobacco harm reduction is the obvious way to stop this crisis in its tracks.' Global experts are tackling a barrier that continues to undermine efforts to reduce the annual 8 million premature deaths related to smoking: misinformation and miscommunication about safer nicotine products and tobacco harm reduction (THR). The GFN 2025 is challenging perceptions as effective communication for tobacco harm reduction conference is a call to action for change. While science increasingly supports safer nicotine products like vapes, snus, pouches and heated tobacco as tools to help smokers switch away from combustibles, fear-driven narratives continue to dominate media and policy. In a keynote lecture Jacob Grier, a journalist covering tobacco policy who has written for Slate and The Atlantic, talked about the disconnect between the evidence for tobacco harm reduction – utility of products like vapes and snus as safer alternatives to continued smoking – and the fact that hostile media narratives are shaping public opinion and health policies. How can impactful, evidence-based messaging be built that respects both reduced-risk products and consumer autonomy? 'Obviously we need to emphasize credible research. The bad news is that having the facts on our side is clearly not enough,' Grier said. 'Journalists seek novelty, so if something isn't new, it isn't news. Millions of people dying from smoking isn't a story, but a few dozen people dying from adulterated [THC or cannabis] vapes generates months of media coverage.' The Global Forum on Nicotine is the only global event that welcomes all stakeholders involved with new and safer nicotine products, including: consumers and consumer advocates; public health experts; policy analysts, parliamentarians and government officials; academics and researchers; product manufacturers and distributors; and media representatives. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
19-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Express
Taiwan holds lessons for Malaysia: Regenerative medicine
Published on: Saturday, July 19, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 19, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: Prof. Dr Su Yung Tsun, the Director of Taiwan Anti-Aging Medical Association, told a seminar themed 'Restoring Health Naturally' recently that Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed the Regenerative Medicine Treatments Act and the Regenerative Medicinal Products Act, boosting the regenerative medicine industry last year. Kota Kinabalu: Regenerative medicine deals with the 'process of replacing, engineering or regenerating human or animal cells, tissues or organs to restore or establish normal function'. This field holds the promise of engineering damaged tissues and organs by stimulating the body's own repair mechanisms to functionally heal previously irreparable tissues or organs. Advertisement Regenerative medicine also includes the possibility of growing tissues and organs in the laboratory and implanting them when the body cannot heal itself. When the cell source for a regenerated organ is derived from the patient's own tissue or cells, the challenge of organ transplant rejection via immunological mismatch is circumvented. Subscribe or LOG IN to access this article. Support Independant Journalism Subscribe to Daily Express Malaysia Access to DE E-Paper Access to DE E-Paper Exclusive News Exclusive News Invites to special events Invites to special events Giveaways & Rewards 1-Year Most Popular (Income Tax Deductible) Explore Plans Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
