WAFIQ president: Malaysia’s health minister should prioritize health over nicotine tax

Today, on April 3, news reports indicate that Professor Rafida Hanin Mokhtar, president of the International Women and Family Organization and the Quality Education Alliance (WAFIQ), expressed shock and disappointment regarding Malaysian Health Minister Dr. Zaliha Mustafa's approval of the amendment to the Poison Act of 1952, which allows the legalization of nicotine products.

He stated that it is disappointing that the first female health minister with a medical background, Dr. Zaliha, signed the 2023 Poison (Amendment) Order.

This order includes a provision that permits nicotine to be used in a liquid or gel formulation for smoking through electronic cigarettes and vaping devices.

Excluding nicotine from the Poison Act before the passage of the 2022 Tobacco Products Control and Smoking Act will lead to children's exposure to nicotine-containing e-cigarette products.

Although Dr. Zaliha stated that the Ministry of Health would re-submit the 2022 Tobacco Products Control and Smoking Act after facing strong opposition from NGOs, this is merely an afterthought and a damage control mechanism.

The president stated that as the health minister, she should have prioritized submitting this bill first, rather than being seen as a health minister who hastily expedited taxation through the 2023 Consumption Tax (Amendment) Order.

This order imposes a consumption tax of 40 cents per milliliter on nicotine-containing e-cigarette liquids or gels.

Many are skeptical about her ability to get this bill passed.

On December 5, she promised to address issues affecting women and children.

Sadly, she is the first female minister to overturn the Poison Committee's decision and sign the amendment to the Poison Act, which legalizes nicotine in e-cigarettes, allowing children to access e-cigarettes.

This will be recorded in history.