Malaysia
Regulate vape, says 50,000 who sign petition
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/313598
A non-government organisation (NGO), Malaysian Organisation of Vape Entities (Move), has succeeded in collecting 50,000 signatures from among e-cigarette or vape entrepreneurs and buyers to urge the government to regulate the use of the products in the country.
Move president Samsul Kamal Arriffin said the NGO wanted the government to ensure that the manufacture, sale, and distribution of the products are managed in a systematic, safe, and structured manner.
“We have received a lot of feedback saying that vape is more detrimental to health compared to smoking, whereas vape uses vapourised liquid which is heated electronically.
“Generally vape consumers want the use of vape and the vapour be regulated like tobacco.
“This is because vaping is gaining in popularity in Malaysia and some people are willing to change their lifestyle by choosing vape as an alternative to smoking,” he told a press conference in Shah Alam today.
Vape is an electronic device that simulates or resembles smoking and with each inhalation, an electronic computer chip powered by a battery will activate an atomiser which heats the fluid which in turn generates smoke-like vapour.
Meanwhile, Umno Youth vice-chief, Khairul Azman Harun, who received the petition, said UMNO Youth was against a ban on vaping but wants the government to regulate vape products, as studies have shown that vaping could reduce nicotine addiction among heavy smokers by up to 80 percent.
He added that e-cigarette entrepreneurs, who first introduced the products in Malaysia in 2011, must adopt good manufacturing practice so that the products currently used by 400,000 consumers, would not be a health hazard.
Ages 18 to 21 a critical time to stave off smoking habit
http://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/09/ages-18-21-critical-time-stave-smoking-habit
KUALA LUMPUR: If a person remains tobacco-free until they reach age 21, chances are that he or she will never succumb to the habit for the rest of their lives, says medical experts.
Hence, raising the age of buying tobacco to 21 will protect teenagers and youths from the dangers of nicotine addiction, thus, reducing the number of deaths and diseases caused by tobacco usage.
Malaysian Mental Health Association deputy president Datuk Dr Andrew Mohanraj Chandrasekaran said people aged between 18 to 21 were most susceptible to the addictive effects of nicotine because their brains were developing.
“This is why most chronic smokers would have first experimented with cigarettes around this age and not later.
“Experimenting with cigarettes during this age allows the brain to ‘learn’ to be addicted compared with a more resistant ‘mature’ brain at an older age. When such an experiment is delayed, there is less likely for addiction to develop,” he told the New Straits Times.
He said the need to experiment with new things, seeking acceptance in a group or just being “cool” were some of the reasons why young people started smoking. He said some also felt that smoking was a form of social rebellion.
University Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences addiction medicine specialist Associate Professor Dr Amer Siddiq Amer Nordin said studies had found that raising the minimum age to buy cigarettes was effective in reducing the smoking rate and increasing the quality of life.
He said a study in the United States revealed that enforcing a higher smoking age would reduce the prevalence of smoking among adults in the long term, and might even be as effective as increasing cigarette taxes by 40 per cent.
“Malaysia’s Global Adult Tobacco Survey found the age of initiation to be 17 years. Studies showed that 80 per cent of smokers started smoking before age 20, and 90 per cent of those who purchased cigarettes were below age 21.
“By increasing the age of purchase, we are essentially ensuring that those under age 21 do not start selling cigarettes and tobacco products to their peers.
“In Malaysia, we are considered mature and able to determine the fate of the country by voting at age 21. So why do we allow those below 21 to have access to cigarettes?” said Dr Amer, who is also a Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control committee member and a smoking cessation specialist.
Malaysian Medical Association president Dr Ashok Philip said tobacco was addictive because of the nicotine content that had powerful effects on receptors in the brain that cause increased alertness and a sense of well-being. However, he said prolonged exposure to nicotine would reduce the number of receptors on the nerve cells.
“If the smoker then cuts down or stops smoking, the nicotine stimulation will drop, and the subject feels irritable, fatigued and out of sorts.
“If he or she can tolerate the symptoms for a few weeks, the number of receptors will recover, and the withdrawal symptoms should be alleviated.
“However, the severity of symptoms vary widely, and in some people, it may be so severe that even nicotine replacement with chewing gum or skin patches cannot help them to quit.”
Malaysian Psychiatric Association honorary secretary Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Muhsin Ahmad Zahari said smoking cigarettes could be a gateway to other habits, such as smoking shisha or marijuana, vaping, and even the use of illicit drugs.
“In a recent finding published in Lancet Psychiatry, regular smokers were associated with a higher risk and earlier onset of developing psychosis, which is a mental illness.”
Gynaecologist and Asia Metropolitan University president and chief executive officer Professor Datuk Dr N.K.S. Tharmaseelan said teenage smoking was often an early warning sign of future problems.
For instance, teens who smoked were three times as likely as non-smokers to use alcohol, eight times as likely to use marijuana, and 22 times as likely to use cocaine.
“Studies have shown that the three-year gap (18 to 21 years) makes a ‘huge’ difference in combating smoking among the young.
“Moreover, most countries are gradually raising the age barrier. Thus, Malaysia may be joining an elite group of health conscious nations that are implementing proactive measures to curb the rising mortality and morbidity associated with smoking,” he said.
Cigarette prices in Malaysia go up by 11 cents
http://news.asiaone.com/news/malaysia/cigarette-prices-malaysia-go-11-cents
PETALING JAYA – After absorbing the cost of Goods and Services Tax (GST) for three months, British American Tobacco (BAT) Malaysia has decided to increase cigarette prices.
The increase, which will take effect today, will see prices of cigarette brands like Dunhill, Benson and Hedges, Pall Mall, Kent, Peter Stuyvesent and Lucky Strike raised by 30 sen (11 cents).
“The price revision is to take into account the GST. The company has been absorbing the GST subsequent to its implementation on April 1,” said BAT Malaysia managing director Stefano Clini in a statement.
After implementation of the GST, BAT announced a price increase of 50 sen for all its cigarette brands but on April 17, it reverted to pre-GST prices.
KLIA customs foil RM4m cigarette smuggling attempt
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1474841
SEPANG: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Customs Department seized 40,000 cartons of cigarettes with unpaid duties amounting of RM4 million on June 24.
KLIA Customs director Datuk Chik Omar Chik Lim said in the 5pm operation, a 40-feet container was impounded at West Port in Port Klang which was carrying goods from China.
“The items were declared as 928 cartons of plastic products comprising chopsticks, containers, bottles and wares worth RM109,431.95.
“But upon closer checks, officials found that there were 8,000,000 sticks of illegal cigarettes in 800 packs worth RM400,000,” he said.
Chik Omar said authorities were in the process of tracking down the culprit behind the smuggling attempt.
“We attempted to contact the company but the name and address provided were false,” he said.
The offence was investigated under Section 133(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967, which carries the maximum punishment of a RM500,000 fine, or five years jail, or both.
Meanwhile, Customs also thwarted three attempts to smuggle in drugs worth more than RM1.6mil with the arrests of two foreigners, including a Ukraine woman, between May 11 and June 15.
Chik Omar said in the first case, a 35-year-old Indian man was detained at about 6.45am at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) with 6.3kg of methamphetamine worth over RM1.2mil.
The illicit item was stashed in a secret compartment of the suspect’s luggage who had just arrived from Bangalore, India, on May 11.
“The drugs were concealed in 49 scent sticks,” he said.
In the second case, two parcels containing with a combination weight of 840g methamphetamine were confiscated at a courier service centre at the KLIA on May 18.
The parcels, which arrived from Shenzen, China, arrived on May 13 but were not claimed, despite calls being made to two individuals who allegedly lived in Kuala Lumpur.
“Intelligence led us to the seizure of the parcels. We found each of the parcels contained an alloy roller which had white powder, believed to be methamphetamine, stuffed in it.
“The drugs are worth about RM157,700,” he said.
A 27-year-old Ukraine woman was arrested for attempting to smuggle in about 2kg of syabu worth RM392,920 stuffed in containers disguised as whitening facial cream.
The woman had just arrived from Hong Kong on June 15 but was immediately held at the KLIA for acting suspiciously.
Chik Omar said all suspects had been charged in court.
“Our effort to curb illegal smuggling is ongoing,” he said.
Cancer group petition backs Putrajaya’s move to ban smoking in public areas
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/cancer-group-sets-up-petition-backing-putrajayas-move-to-ban-smoking-in-pub
Putrajaya’s proposal to fully ban smoking in public places might be a reality soon with the support of the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM), which recently launched an online petition to support the move.
Titled “SMOKING! YES I MIND!!”, the petition is meant to back Putrajaya’s recently-revealed plan to implement a 100% ban on smoking in all areas including open-air premises such as recreational parks.
This comes after statistics from the Health Ministry revealed that some 100,000 Malaysians die from smoking related illnesses every year.
Priya Menon from NCSM, who is coordinating the petition, told The Malaysian Insider recently that the reason behind the move was to show support for what the government was doing.
“We are doing this in a way to encourage them and to help them lobby this ban.
“For the government to implement it, they not only need the support from NGOs but also from the public and the media to make this as visible as possible.”
This was the first petition that NCSM has ever launched, Priya said, indicating just how much it takes smoking and the after-effects of it seriously.
“The 100,000 figure are only those who smoke. It does not include those who die from illnesses from inhaling second-hand smoke. Studies have shown that second-hand smoke is more harmful than the actual smoking.
“The number of deaths has been increasing every year and this is a concern to us. It is estimated that in the 21st century, some 1 billion people will die from tobacco use.”
Contrary to popular belief, lung cancer was not the only cancer that is due to tobacco, Priya said.
“There are 16 other types of cancer that has been linked to tobacco use.”
The petition, which has so far received 490 signatures, will be sent to the ministry once it has reached its target of 100,000 signatures.
However, the response, Priya said, has been slow as many are not yet aware of the ban and the petition.
“Currently we are trying to get the word out as much as possible. Also could be because many don’t see the importance of this smoking ban and the lack of awareness.”
When asked if the poor response was because the Malaysian public were not receptive of the proposal, she said a 2011 Global Tobacco Survey showed that 83.5% of respondents here said they wanted 100% smoke-free public places.
“From that, we can safely assume that the public does want a smoke-free environment and although we aren’t expecting it to happen immediately, we hope that petitions such as these will help push for the ban,” Priya said.
Adzrin Jaafar and Wan Mohamad, two heavy smokers, told The Malaysian Insider that they would fully back the ban if a special area was allocated just for smokers.
“I will support the ban because I, too, don’t want people to smoke near my family members and young child. Besides, it is unfair to affect others with our smoke,” Wan said.
“However, there should be an alternative given to smokers so that they don’t smoke outside. Like in airports, they provide a special room for smoking.”
Adzrin agreed, although she was not in agreement with banning smoking at public places such as restaurants, stadiums and parks.
“But if they really want to, then the government should provide or allocate areas for smokers to go puff in those places.
“If they did that, there shouldn’t be a problem.”
Malaysia to ban smoking at parks, eateries
http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/malaysia-ban-smoking-parks-eateries
KUALA LUMPUR — Smokers will soon no longer be allowed to light up at all eateries across Malaysia, even in open air premises, the Health Ministry said.
According to The Star today (May 9), the ministry said the ban will include even mamak stalls and food courts, apart from air-conditioned restaurants.
Other areas to be gazetted as no smoking zones are all public and national parks, and even theme parks, the daily wrote.
Citing a post on the ministry’s website, The Star report said the ban is in line with guidelines in the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention for Tobacco Control, of which Malaysia is a signatory.
The daily also cited estimates from the ministry claiming that 100,000 Malaysians die every year from smoke-related illnesses.
Findings in 2011 by the Global Adult Tobacco Survey carried out in Malaysia showed that 83.5 per cent of respondents want all public places to be 100 per cent smoke free, The Star cited the ministry as saying.
Despite the findings, however, the public are encouraged to offer its feedback on whether smokers should be allowed smoke in special designated areas in eateries or be banned completely from lighting up.
Feedback on whether there should be designated smoking areas at public parks, and on who should be held responsible for any flouting of the ban ― restaurant operators or smokers — is also encouraged.
The public can give their views to the ministry’s website until May 18.
According to the daily, a number of coffee shop associations and restaurant owners are also protesting the ban, with some calling for it to be implemented gradually.
Last year, the ministry gazetted the ban on smoking at all rest areas and recreational spots along highways, as well as sheltered walkways in the city centre.
Tobacco, medicines dominate TPPA forum
http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2015/05/07/Tobacco-medicines-dominate-TPPA-forum/?style=biz
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s request for tobacco to not be part of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations and fears over the higher cost of medication dominated the floor at a forum discussing the trade agreement.
Forum participants railed against the opacity of the negotiations, a US-led initiative including 11 other nations on both sides of the Pacific at the forum on Thursday.
Participants wanted to know why, despite health warnings even in the United States, Malaysia’s suggestion for tobacco to be ‘carved out’ of the trade talks have not yielded any results.
The forum was interrupted midway when two persons from a patient-advocacy group unfurled a banner protesting against the perceived threat that the agreement would bring to medicine costs.
The chapter on intellectual property rights remains one of the most contentious of the outstanding issues with opponents of the TPPA arguing that medicine costs would go up as pharmaceutical firms extend the shelf-life of their patents
Stronger pack warnings predict quitting more than weaker ones: finding from the ITC Malaysia and Thailand surveys
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24330614
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
We examined the impact of cigarette pack warning labels on interest in quitting and subsequent quit attempts among adult smokers in Malaysia and Thailand.
METHODS:
Two overlapping cohorts of adults who reported smoking factory- made cigarettes from Malaysia and Thailand were interviewed face-to-face (3189 were surveyed at baseline and 1781 re-contacted at Wave 2; 2361 current smokers were surveyed at Wave 2 and 1586 re-contacted at Wave 3). In Thailand at baseline, large text only warnings were assessed, while at Wave 2 new large graphic warnings were assessed. In Malaysia, during both waves small text only warnings were in effect. Reactions were used to predict interest in quitting, and to predict making quit attempts over the following inter-wave interval.
RESULTS:
Multivariate predictors of “interest in quitting” were comparable across countries, but predictors of quit attempts varied. In both countries, cognitive reactions to warnings (adjusted ORs; 1.57 & 1.69 for Malaysia at wave 1 and wave 2 respectively and 1.29 & 1.19 for Thailand at wave 1 and wave 2 respectively), forgoing a cigarette (except Wave 2 in Malaysia) (adjusted ORs; 1.77 for Malaysia at wave 1 and 1.54 & 2.32 for Thailand at wave 1 and wave 2 respectively), and baseline knowledge (except wave 2 in both countries) (adjusted ORs; 1.71 & 1.51 for Malaysia and Thailand respectively) were positively associated with interest in quitting at that wave. In Thailand only, “cognitive reactions to warnings” (adjusted ORs; 1.12 & 1.23 at wave 1 and wave 2 respectively), “forgoing a cigarette” (adjusted OR = 1.55 at wave 2 only) and “an interest in quitting” (adjusted ORs; 1.61 & 2.85 at wave 1 and wave 2 respectively) were positively associated with quit attempts over the following inter-wave interval. Salience was negatively associated with subsequent quit attempts in both Malaysia and Thailand, but at Wave 2 only (adjusted ORs; 0.89 & 0.88 for Malaysia and Thailand respectively).
CONCLUSION:
Warnings appear to have common mechanisms for influencing quitting regardless of warning strength. The larger and more informative Thai warnings were associated with higher levels of reactions predictive of quitting and stronger associations with subsequent quitting, demonstrating their greater potency.