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Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Malaysia says study needed before classifying etomidate as a dangerous drug
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Etomidate is reportedly being misused as a recreational substance in vape products, often marketed as Kpods. PUTRAJAYA - A thorough study will be conducted before any decision is made to list etomidate as a dangerous drug under the law, says Malaysia's Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad. Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad said that the ministry took heed of the recent proposal to list the substance under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 but would not make a hasty decision without proper evidence. At the moment, etomidate is listed as an intravenous sedative and anaesthesia used in clinical practice. 'It is not an issue as it is already listed under the Poisons Act but not under the Dangerous Drugs Act,' he told reporters at a press conference after launching the National Health Technology Assessment Conference 2025 on July 30. Dr Dzulkefly was responding to a proposal made by Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii to list etomidate as a dangerous drug, following reports of deaths caused by the drug in Singapore. Dr Yii said in Parliament on July 28 that etomidate was being misused as a recreational substance in vape products, often marketed as Kpods. He said the misuse of etomidate could result in death due to severe respiratory distress, sudden unconsciousness, injury and adrenal crisis. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore MHA to support HSA's crackdown on Kpod abusers and help in treatment of offenders: Shanmugam Business S'pore's economic resilience will face headwinds in second half of 2025 from tariffs, trade conflicts: MAS Business S'pore's Q2 total employment rises, but infocomm and professional services sectors see more job cuts Singapore Fewer than 1 in 5 people noticed suspicious items during MHA's social experiments Asia Powerful 8.8-magnitude quake in Russia's far east causes tsunami; Japan, Hawaii order evacuations Singapore Migrant workers who gave kickbacks to renew work passes were conservancy workers at AMK Town Council Asia 'Hashing things out': Japan, Vietnam, EU contest terms of US tariff deals behind the scenes Singapore Escape, discover, connect: Where new memories are made Dr Yii said Kpods, which often contain etomidate, are targeted at young people. It was reported that Singapore is working to list etomidate as a Class C drug under its Misuse of Drugs Act. Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung was recently reported to have said that random tests found that one-third out of 100 vape devices seized were found to contain etomidate. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Borneo Post
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Bandar Kuching MP calls for temporary halt to ART works in Taman Stutong Indah
Lam assisted and mediated discussions between the residents, Sarawak Metro, and the ART contractors, resulting in several immediate measures being agreed upon to address the residents' concerns. KUCHING (July 30): Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii has called on Sarawak Metro to temporarily halt all Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) works in Taman Stutong Indah until a stakeholder dialogue can be convened and the residents' concerns have been fully addressed. Dr Yii said his office will send a formal letter requesting a meeting with Sarawak Metro and the project's designer‑consultant to review the ART track's alignment and design in full transparency. 'It is vital for all stakeholders to be involved so that every concern is addressed constructively,' he said in the statement today. Meanwhile, Dr Yii said his special assistant, George Lam, has successfully assisted and mediated discussions between the residents, Sarawak Metro, and the ART contractors, resulting in several immediate measures being agreed upon to address the residents' concerns. 'Sarawak Metro and the contractors have agreed to instal metal hoardings to prevent dust and debris from spreading to the surrounding residential area during construction. 'They have also committed to improving traffic management in the area and to issuing prior notices to residents if any closures or diversions could affect road access to the housing estate. 'To maintain the cleanliness of the surrounding area, the contractors have instructed their workers to properly dispose of all construction waste and rubbish. 'Furthermore, the contractors will direct their workers to avoid parking their vehicles directly in front of residential units in order to ensure better accessibility and privacy for the residents in the area,' he said. Dr Yii stressed that while the ART project promises long-term benefits for Kuching, its implementation must not compromise the well-being of neighbouring communities. 'As MP, I believe it is my duty to act as a bridge between the people and the authorities, ensuring that development projects are implemented responsibly with minimal disruption to the surrounding community,' he said. Dr Yii said his office will continue to follow up on these measures, maintain open communication among all parties, and convene further dialogue sessions as necessary for the good of the people.
The Star
4 hours ago
- Health
- The Star
Study needed before classifying etomidate as a dangerous drug, says Dzulkefly
PUTRAJAYA: A thorough study will be conducted before any decision is made to list etomidate as a dangerous drug under the law, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. The Health Minister said that the ministry took heed of the recent proposal to list the substance under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 but would not make a hasty decision without proper evidence. "At the moment, etomidate is listed under Second Part of the Poisons Act under Category B as 'intravenous sedatives and anesthesia' used in clinical practice. "It is not an issue as it is already listed under the Poisons Act but not under the Dangerous Drugs Act, " he told reporters at a press conference after launching the National Health Technology Assessment Conference 2025 here on Wednesday (July 30). Dzulkefly was responding to a proposal made by Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii to list etomidate as a dangerous drug following reports of deaths caused by the drug in Singapore. Yii said in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (July 28) that etomidate was being misused as a recreational substance in vape products, often marketed as Kpods. He said the misuse of etomidate could result in death due to severe respiratory distress, sudden unconsciousness, injury and adrenal crisis. Yii said Kpods, which often contain etomidate, are marketed at young people. It was reported that Singapore is working to list etomidate as a Class C drug under its Misuse of Drugs Act. Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung was recently reported to have said that random tests found that one-third out of 100 vape devices seized were found to contain etomidate.
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Automotive
- Borneo Post
Parking e-compound system for Miri to be launched on Aug 18
Adam Yii MIRI (July 29): Miri City Council (MCC) will launch the parking e-compound system this Aug 18, at Marina Phase 1, as a pilot project before wider implementation across the city. According to Mayor Adam Yii, the system is a step towards digitalising parking enforcement and also supporting MCC's Smart City goals. 'With the system, it would allow compounds to be issued electronically via handheld devices and enables motorists to pay fines online – making the process faster, more transparent and more convenient. 'The key benefits of the digitalised system include real-time issuance, centralised tracking, the convenience of online payments and automated reminders for defaulters. 'Not only it is eco-friendly, but it also reduces operational costs, while enhancing transparency, enabling geo-tagged enforcement, and providing valuable data insights for better planning,' said Yii in a statement yesterday. The pilot project at Marina Phase 1, according to him, serves to test the system's effectiveness before the citywide rollout. 'Thus, MCC is inviting councillors and the public to witness this milestone in improving urban management and service delivery.' On the parking services, Yii said the MCC was deeply concerned about the frequent obstruction of parking spaces by unauthorised structures, objects or activities, that had been happening around the city. He said that recent site inspections by the council revealed a growing trend of obstructions. 'The scenarios such as installation of illegal ramps by commercial premises, workshops and car wash operators; abandoned vehicles; placement of rubbish bins and construction debris at public parking spaces; and deliberate blockage (of parking spaces) by the shop owners using various materials or vehicles, have been constantly seen. 'These practices reduce the availability of public parking and disrupt traffic flow, and also pose safety and hygiene concerns. 'Public parking bays are designated for shared use, and are not to be claimed, modified or used for private purposes. 'In this regard, MCC will step up enforcement efforts in dealing with repeat offenders.' Asked about the possibility of allowing business operators to pay rent to occupy parking spaces, Yii said the council is reluctant to permit such arrangements but will consider cases individually on a case-by-case basis. 'We are urging full cooperation from all parties to help preserve Miri's reputation as a well-managed and accessible city. 'We encourage the public to report any obstruction of parking areas through MCC's official complaint channels,' he added. adam yii e-compound Miri City Council parking system
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
MP urges government to list etomidate as dangerous drug
KUALA LUMPUR: A government backbencher has called on the government to list etomidate under the Poisons Act and the Dangerous Drugs Act, following reports of the drug being fatal in Singapore. Bandar Kuching member of parliament Dr Kelvin Yii said etomidate is an intravenous anaesthetic drug that has been misused as a recreational substance through vape products, often marketed as Kpods. "This is not just a theory or speculation. We are witnessing the harsh reality where this drug has already claimed lives in our neighbouring country, Singapore. "If Malaysia does not act swiftly and firmly, we too may face preventable deaths, especially among our youth. "Etomidate is an intravenous anaesthetic drug, but it has been misused as a recreational substance. It is not safe. There is a risk of sudden death when inhaling etomidate," he said during his debate on the Poisons (Amendment) Bill 2025. He said users may suffer severe respiratory distress, sudden unconsciousness, injury, and adrenal crisis, which affects the body's ability to produce stress hormones like cortisol for several days. "This can cause dangerously low blood pressure and organ failure." Yii said Kpods, which often contain this substance, are heavily marketed to young people. He added that Singapore has listed etomidate under its Poisons Act and has gone a step further to upgrade its classification to a dangerous drug. "I believe we should learn from this and not wait until our children are affected or lives are lost. "I call on the government to classify etomidate as a dangerous drug. "I believe the Health Ministry, the National Anti-Drugs Agency, and the Home Ministry must ensure that both the Poisons Act and the Dangerous Drugs Act are amended to explicitly regulate etomidate as an illegal substance, with penalties that reflect its serious harm to our children. "We must also enforce existing vape laws more strictly. This includes increasing inspections and raids against illegal vape distributors and considering stricter controls over vape liquids and devices," he said. He also urged the government to enhance Malaysia's capabilities in detection and forensic analysis. He said immediate funding should be allocated to the Chemistry Department, the police forensic unit, and relevant laboratories to acquire specialised equipment such as GC-MS/MS, and to develop validated testing protocols for detecting etomidate in vape liquids and biological samples like urine and blood. "I also urge the Health Ministry to issue strong warnings and implement aggressive public education campaigns. "We need a national campaign to ensure that our children understand the dangers of this poison. "There should also be messaging that Kpods can stop your breathing and kill you instantly. Etomidate is not a toy. These Kpods are not toys. I believe this campaign must continue and be targeted at both parents and children," he said. Last week, it was reported that Singapore is working to list etomidate as a Class C drug under its Misuse of Drugs Act. Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung was quoted in a report published by CNA as saying that authorities had randomly tested more than 100 seized vape devices, and one-third were found to contain etomidate. Ong also noted that there have been deaths including from traffic accidents and unnatural causes in which etomidate was implicated, with investigations still ongoing.
