Seek treatment if you really want to quit smoking, Health D-G tells vapers

According to a report, Malaysia now has the world's second biggest e-cigarette market. ― File picKUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 ― Vapers should go to 'quit smoking clinics' to seek medical treatment and advice if they really intend to quit, Health Ministry director-general Datuk Noor Hisham Abdullah has said.

Noor Hisham said the rise of vapers in Malaysia was worrying as the country now has the world's second biggest e-cigarette market, Malay broadsheet Utusan Malaysia reported today.

“If someone intends to quit smoking, the quit smoking clinics will enable them to get advice on controlled use of nicotine prescribed by doctors to stop the addiction,” the Health D-G was quoted saying.

He also said that switching from cigarettes to vaping did not solve the problem of smoking but has resulted in more people taking up vaping.

Noor Hisham added that new laws were needed so that the production and sales of vape gadgets can be monitored by the government.

Yesterday the Health Ministry launched raids on vape shops nationwide and seized the e-cigarettes with nicotine content in a move which has angered traders who were forced to temporarily close their businesses.

On Tuesday, the ministry said it will confiscate nicotine content found in e-cigarettes from all traders nationwide, in a move to discourage Malaysians from vaping.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam said that the ministry is empowered to do so under the 1952 Poisons Act and 1983 Food Act, pointing out that vape shops currently not licensed to sell any products which contain nicotine.

Concerns over vaping exist largely due to their initial positioning as electronic replacements for cigarettes, prompting fears that the former may be as harmful as conventional tobacco use.

While the health risks of smoking are well established, the dangers involved in using e-cigarettes have not been conclusively determined.

The more apparent risk comes from users jury-rigging their own vaporisers using diverse components and without proper research, as seen from incidents involving exploding e-cigarettes.