KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has expressed its full support for the call by Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, to impose a nationwide ban on e-cigarette and vape products.
The association has also urged Putrajaya to consider the Sultan’s recommendation seriously.
In a statement, MMA president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira shared the association’s concern that vaping could lead to severe health issues, including breathing difficulties, chronic lung diseases, and damage to other organs.
Dr Kalwinder further highlighted the risks of addiction to drugs and other harmful substances associated with the vaping habit, whether directly or indirectly.
“Vaping among the population is an issue that must be dealt with in an urgent manner before it causes irreversible damage to health.
“The increasing vape usage among youths in the country is also particularly troubling and needs to be nipped in the bud,” he added.
On Monday, Sultan Abdullah reportedly proposed a total ban on such products, citing concerns over the rising drug abuse among youth in Pahang, as reflected in statistics from the National Anti-Drug Agency.
Sultan Abdullah also noted that, based on these statistics, one of the primary causes of young people falling into drug addiction, both directly and indirectly, stems from the use of vapes.
The American Lung Association has warned that e-cigarettes emit a range of dangerous chemicals, including acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde, which are linked to lung and cardiovascular diseases. Acrolein, a herbicide used to kill weeds, is particularly concerning as it can cause asthma and lung cancer.
Evali cases
Dr Kalwinder also referred to reports from the US, where 2,807 hospitalised cases of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (Evali) had been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by 2020. In Malaysia, 31 Evali cases were reported from 2019 until September 30, 2024.
He further highlighted a statement made by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad in the Dewan Rakyat on November 14, revealing that the cost to treat one Evali case over a 12-day period amounted to RM150,000. Dzulkefly warned that if no control measures were implemented, the treatment costs could escalate to RM369 million annually by 2030.
“We are of the view that the best control measure would be a total ban on all e-cigarette or vaping products.
“It is evident from the facts and figures that vaping offers no benefit to the population, both in terms of health and the costs for healthcare,” Dr Kalwinder concluded.