KUALA LUMPUR: The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) and Malaysian Green Lung Association urged immediate presentation of the tax bill implementation on electronic cigarettes, to ensure the welfare of the people particularly vulnerable groups like children and teenagers from nicotine addiction.
Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) president Mohideen Abdul Kader said that every tax levy must be accompanied by a law to increase retail prices and make them unaffordable, especially for children and teenagers.
He expressed disappointment that nicotine containing tobacco products, liquid solution or gel would be exempted under the Poison Act 1952.
"This will enable electronic cigarettes containing nicotine to be sold in the market for pleasure and not be regarded as poison."
"We want to emphasise that the implementation of this tax must be preceded by the approval of the Bill with Generational End Game (GEG) provisions."
Mohideen urged the unity government to present the Bill immediately amid rumours that the tobacco industry would submit a new legislative proposal with the existing Food Act 1983.
"The tobacco industry lobbyists would be violating the WHO FCTC because it explicitly provides in Article 5.3 that 'In setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law'.
"The government should not be influenced by the industry's lobbyists and should enact a law prohibiting such interference.
"It is an irony that tobacco, vape, and electronic cigarettes that endanger our health are placed at par with food.
Mohideen said that electronic cigarettes, vape, and cigarettes which were processed from herbal leaves (including tea leaves) should not be included in the Food Act.
"It should be a standalone Tobacco Control Act to strictly regulate these addictive products," said Mohideen in a statement today.
He hopes the government will not give in to the insistence of the tobacco industry which is solely motivated by profit.
Meanwhile, CAP welcomes the government's efforts to impose the tax on electronic cigarette liquid which is in line with Article 6 of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
