Author: Tarmizi Anuwar

Industry needs to highlight sustainability efforts

LETTERS: I read the report “CCC called for informed decision-making to counter negative palm oil perception” (NST, Sept 22) with great interest.

Most interesting was Consumer Choice Centre (CCC) representative Tarmizi Anuwar’s statement that “consumers and industries alike must also be diligent in ‘cutting through the noise’ to reveal the true value of products”.

Media platforms, like NST, play a critical role in informing consumers. 

I have followed the palm oil industry for over a decade.

As a conscientious consumer, it has not been an easy to shop for goods that do not impact the environment.

However, if media or social media is to be believed, then taking an anti-palm oil sentiment is easy considering the massive amounts of “noise” against palm oil.

Read the full text here

CCC calls for cultivating consumer education, informed decision making

THE Consumer Choice Centre (CCC), a non-profit consumer advocacy group, is urging consumers to empower themselves with accurate and comprehensive information before forming opinions about everyday products like palm oil.

In this regard, consumers and industries alike must be diligent in cutting through the noise to reveal the true value of products, according to CCC representative Tarmizi Anuwar.

Commenting on a recent article in Berita Harian by Dr Roger Clemens highlighting the misunderstanding and misinformation surrounding palm oil, Tarmizi said:

“Palm oil is a staple in drug development, vital for medical advances and a case study in the growing need for sustainable practices. However, the story around palm oil today is rife with misinformation and false allegations. A deeper scrutiny is not just essential but a responsibility we all have to share.”

CCC advocates for a proactive, informed approach to consumer choices, particularly those concerning contentious products like everyday items and daily consumables.

Read the full text here

Ensure Generational Endgame policy achievable in decreasing smoking prevalence in Malaysia, says consumer body

KUALA LUMPUR: Policymakers should delve deeper into the Generational Endgame (GEG) policy, ensuring it offers a practical and attainable method to decrease smoking prevalence in Malaysia.

The Malaysian Consumer Choice Center (MCCC) representative Tarmizi Anuwar said the government also needs to carry out a more meaningful and quality engagement process to ensure that every stakeholder is involved adequately in the consultation process. 

“We do not want just to be given a 10-to-15-minute presentation but not have any further discussion after that,” Tarmizi said in a statement.

CCC recently published a report entitled Roundtable Discussion on Smoking Product Control in Public Health: Room for Improvement.

The main purpose of the round table discussion is to get alternative views from experts in various fields and comprehensively assess and scrutinise the bill considering health, legal, economic and feasibility aspects. 

Read the full text here

The enforcement of the smoking ban failed in restaurants, the Generational Endgame will increase illegal trade 

KUALA LUMPUR, 18th Sep 2023 – The Consumer Choice Center (CCC) has just published a Report on the Roundtable Discussion on Smoking Product Control in Public Health: Room for Improvement held on 23 August 2023 recently at the Majestic Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. 

Representative of the Malaysian Consumer Choice Center, Tarmizi Anuwar said: “The main purpose of the round table discussion is to get alternative views from experts in various fields as well as comprehensively assess and scrutinize the bill taking into account health, legal, economic and feasibility aspects. In addition, this report aims to provide proposals for improving the bill to the Special Select Committee, the Ministry of Health and policy makers.”

In addition, Tarmizi emphasized that this report is important to be examined by policy makers to ensure that the Generational Endgame policy to be implemented is studied more deeply and takes a more practical and feasible approach to reduce smoking rates in Malaysia.

“Policy makers should examine the essence of this report because our concern is that this tobacco bill will end up with an increase in illegal trade and the lack of a comprehensive impact assessment especially on consumers.”

“In addition, the Government also needs to carry out a more meaningful and quality engagement process to ensure that every stakeholder is properly involved in the consultation process. We don’t want to just be given a 10-to-15-minute presentation but not have any further discussion after that.”  

According to YB Dr. Afif Bahardin who is the Taman Medan assemblyman, he thinks that Generational Endgame will fail due to lack of resources and human capital. This is based on his experience dealing with the Ministry of Health while serving as the Member of the Penang State Executive Council who tried to make Penang a smoke-free zone but was unsuccessful. 

“In Malaysia, the illegal trade is rampant and from my point of view GEG will fail, just like how Penang tried to do it before. We need to focus on how to control smoking. There are currently no vaping regulations and no regulations on nicotine levels. Get support from everyone not only from enforcement but also for the community. Also, instead of focusing on introducing new bills. Restaurants still have people smoking, enforcement needs to be there. I think supporting community education is much more important than imposing new laws”, he said.

In addition, Kue Kok Meng as the President of the Petaling Jaya Coffee Shop Association said that until now the Ministry of Health or law enforcement cannot control the current laws such as smoking in restaurants. 

“In the coffee shop I don’t see law enforcement coming to ban people from smoking. The government has made all the advertisements but people still smoke. Most importantly, the responsibility of enforcement should be done by enforcement agencies and not coffee shops.”

According to Benedict Weerasena until May 2021, illegal cigarettes continue to increase and emphasizes the importance of enforcement to deal with the issue of illegal trade before introducing the end generation policy. 

“The impact on GEG for retailers is lost revenue, compliance costs, equipment costs, monitoring costs, opportunity costs and legal fees. Based on our study, the total enforcement cost for GEG is estimated at RM 303 million per year including tobacco track costs, public awareness campaigns, administrative costs, additional enforcement to curb the growth of the illegal cigarette market.”

“We don’t want to be like South Africa in March 2020 when their government introduced a ban on the sale of tobacco products. But 93% of smokers can still continue to buy cigarettes and the average price has increased by 250%. If this matter is not controlled it creates a negative perception that our country prioritizes smuggling over legitimate sources.” he said. 

Download the full report here

Ke arah kebolehcapaian kenderaan elektrik oleh pengguna

Agensi Tenaga Antarabangsa meramalkan menjelang akhir 2023 sebanyak 14 juta kenderaan elektrik akan dijual di pasaran global.

Sementara itu pada suku pertama tahun ini saja, terdapat peningkatan hampir 25 peratus (2.3 juta) kenderaan elektrik yang dijual berbanding tempoh sama tahun lalu.

Salah satu sebab utama permintaan untuk kenderaan elektrik berkembang pesat ialah kerana potensinya untuk mengurangkan pelepasan gas rumah hijau dan menjadi lebih mesra alam.

Selain itu, potensi kos operasi yang lebih rendah berbanding kenderaan enjin pembakaran dalaman juga mendorong peningkatan permintaan, terutamanya kos elektrik yang lebih rendah berbanding petrol atau diesel dan kurangnya kos penyelenggaraan bahagian dalaman kereta.

Malaysia tidak terkecuali daripada gelombang global peralihan kenderaan elektrik. Gelombang ini memaksa Malaysia untuk lebih bersedia dalam menyediakan dasar dan infrastruktur yang mampu menarik minat industri untuk melabur dan membuka peluang pekerjaan serta meluaskan lagi pilihan kepada pengguna.

Oleh sebab itu, kerajaan mewujudkan Jawatankuasa Pemandu EV Kebangsaan (NEVSC) yang melibatkan pelbagai kementerian dengan tujuan menggubal dasar dan menyelesaikan isu berbangkit dalam pelaksanaan ekosistem kenderaan elektrik di Malaysia.

Terbaru kerajaan menyasarkan untuk mencapai 15 peratus kenderaan elektrik di jalan raya pada 2030 dan 38 peratus menjelang 2040.

Angka itu bukanlah sasaran yang sukar untuk dicapai, tetapi dasar dan peraturan kerajaan akan memainkan peranan penting dalam menggalakkan penggunaan kenderaan elektrik di Malaysia bagi jangka masa panjang.

Dalam Belanjawan 2023, kerajaan mengambil pendirian bagi melanjutkan pengecualian duti import dan duti eksais sepenuhnya ke atas kenderaan elektrik import penuh (CBU) sehingga 31 Dis 2025.

Bagi kenderaan elektrik pemasangan tempatan, pengecualian penuh duti import ke atas komponen dan duti eksais serta cukai jualan telah dilanjutkan sehingga 31 Dis 2027.

Namun, dalam kes ini, sepatutnya tiada teknologi khusus yang perlu ditetapkan oleh kerajaan tetapi harus dipilih oleh pengguna. Teknologi neutral mesti digunakan untuk memastikan tiada teknologi atau pihak yang mendapat sebarang kelebihan berbanding pihak lain.

Ini penting untuk menjamin pengguna membuat pilihan secara bebas tanpa dikawal atau dipaksa oleh dasar berat sebelah.

Sementara itu, bagi pengeluar peralatan mengecas kenderaan elektrik mereka akan menikmati insentif 100 peratus pengecualian cukai dari tahun taksiran 2023 hingga 2032, dan 100 peratus elaun cukai pelaburan untuk tempoh lima tahun.

Satu lagi dasar yang baik, cukai jalan untuk kenderaan elektrik adalah percuma sehingga 2025. Kementerian Pengangkutan sedang membangunkan struktur cukai jalan yang kurang daripada kenderaan pembakaran dalaman.

Pengguna juga boleh menikmati pelepasan cukai pendapatan individu sehingga RM2,500 ke atas perbelanjaan berkaitan pengecasan peralatan.

Walaupun dasar kerajaan sekarang agak terbuka, masih terdapat banyak cabaran kepada pengguna untuk memiliki kenderaan elektrik. Ia melibatkan pemilikan yang masih mahal yang membolehkan hanya kumpulan tertentu sahaja memilikinya.

Walaupun teknologi bateri bertambah baik, ia masih mempunyai jarak pemanduan yang terhad berbanding kenderaan pembakaran dalaman.

Begitu juga infrastruktur pengecasan yang terhad dan masa pengecasan yang lebih lama berbanding kenderaan tradisional membuatkan pengguna masih teragak-agak untuk beralih kepada kenderaan elektrik.

Kos bateri yang tinggi, hayat bateri dan kesan alam sekitar daripada pengeluaran dan pelupusan bateri yang melibatkan pelepasan karbon dioksida menjadikan pemilikan besar-besaran mencabar.

Sebagai contoh, dasar Tesla adalah untuk memastikan setiap bateri yang mencapai penghujung hayatnya boleh dikitar semula dan digunakan semula berulang kali.

Perlu ada garis panduan untuk pengurusan bateri litium-ion yang hanya boleh dikendalikan oleh profesional berkelayakan yang memenuhi piawaian infrastruktur tertentu.

Malaysia sedang dalam fasa peralihan ke arah penggunaan kenderaan elektrik yang akan mengambil jangka masa panjang. Peranan kerajaan adalah untuk memastikan dasar yang diperkenal dan dilaksanakan mampu terus menggalakkan industri berinovasi dan bekerjasama agar cabaran tersebut dapat diselesaikan.

Kerajaan juga perlu sedar, dasar melindungi industri automotif tempatan dengan alasan patriotik hanya akan membebankan pengguna apabila terpaksa membayar dua kali ganda semata-mata untuk mendapatkan kenderaan yang lebih berkualiti.

Keterbukaan teknologi adalah prasyarat penjimatan kos untuk sektor pengangkutan yang mampan.

Originally published here

The special exemption of SpaceX operating in Malaysia is inconsistent with technological neutrality

The Consumer Choice Center (CCC) emphasizes the importance of the government supporting and maintaining technological neutrality as the best mechanism to allow companies to operate and invest in Malaysia.

Representative of the Malaysian Consumer Choice Center, Tarmizi Anuwar said: “The government should have to provide a level playing field for every investor who wants to invest in this country without giving privileges to any party. The special exception of SpaceX being granted a Network Facility and Service Provider (NFP/NSP) license for a period of 10 years with full foreign equity ownership is inconsistent. In general, CCC agrees with the policy of full ownership of foreign equity, but it needs to be a policy that can be used by all parties.”

In addition, Tarmizi commented on the exemption conditions from the Minister for the 49 percent threshold policy for foreign equity on NFP and NSP licensees, sending a signal to potential investors that the government’s policy can change according to the investors they like. 

“The government needs to adopt the principle of technological neutrality in investment policies for all parties fairly. In order to ensure that the country becomes a major investment destination at the regional level and has a high global competitiveness, the policies implemented need to be clear, open and consistent, and not practice favoritism.”

“If soon, other satellite providers such as Amazon’s Project Kuiper, HughesNet or Viasat are able to provide more competitive prices and better services, will the government impose the same exemption? An inconsistent policy will send a message that the government is trying to protect certain investors,” he said.

Commenting on Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil’s statement regarding the installation of 10 Starlink kits to Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Kuala Pilah, Perak, Tawau and Sarawak to solve their internet problems, Tarmizi thinks the government needs to re-evaluate the priority and main purpose of installing these satellites.

“The main purpose of installing this communication satellite is to bridge the digital divide in rural areas. While all these universities have a fiber network and 5G. This installation is considered irrational because it is installed in educational facilities that already have access to high-speed internet. In addition, the price of Starlink is also much more expensive than fiber.” 

“Hence, the government needs to re-evaluate populated areas that really need and face internet access issues, due to geographical and infrastructure challenges.” he concluded.

Persaingan pasaran baik untuk pengguna

Persaingan pasaran merupakan persaingan antara firma perniagaan atau syarikat yang beroperasi dalam industri yang sama atau menawarkan produk atau perkhidmatan yang serupa.

Hal ini melibatkan usaha pihak syarikat untuk menarik minat pelanggan bagi mencapai kelebihan daya saing dan keuntungan syarikat berbanding syarikat pesaing dalam persaingan yang adil.

Dalam pasaran bebas, persaingan yang adil merupakan syarat utama bagi memastikan perniagaan atau individu mempunyai peluang untuk bersaing secara saksama. Ia bermaksud setiap pihak akan bersaing atas syarat atau undang-undang yang sama tanpa kelebihan atau halangan yang tidak adil seperti undang-undang yang memihak kepada satu pihak.

Baru-baru ini, kedudukan Malaysia dalam World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR) 2023 telah meningkat lima anak tangga kepada 27 berbanding 32 pada tahun sebelumnya. Dalam laporan tersebut Malaysia berjaya menambah baik prestasi dari segi harga, infrastruktur asas dan dasar cukai tetapi kurang baik dari segi perundangan perniagaan, pendidikan dan rangka kerja kemasyarakatan.

Mengulas perkara ini, Tengku Zafrul selaku Menteri Pelaburan, Perdagangan dan Industri (MITI) menyatakan komitmen untuk meningkatkan daya saing global Malaysia kerana prestasi ini mampu memberi pengaruh pelaburan, perdagangan dan pembangunan perindustrian negara.

Selain itu, Perbadanan Produktivi Malaysia (MPC) dalam proses menjalankan kajian mengenai beban kawal selia yang tidak perlu ke atas perniagaan dengan mengurangkan isu dan cabaran yang berkaitan dengan birokrasi kerajaan.

Ini satu usaha yang baik kerana persekitaran yang mesra perniagaan dengan peraturan yang dipermudahkan dan proses yang cekap boleh menarik pelaburan, merangsang pertumbuhan ekonomi dan mewujudkan peluang pekerjaan.

Namun, perkara yang paling utama adalah pengguna mendapat manfaat paling besar daripada pasaran yang lebih kompetitif, yang sering membawa kepada produk yang lebih baik, harga yang lebih rendah dan pilihan yang lebih tinggi.

Persaingan memberi manfaat kepada pengguna dengan memberikan mereka pilihan, memacu inovasi dan membawa kepada kualiti dan nilai yang lebih baik. Mahu tidak mahu, perniagaan terpaksa menawarkan harga yang lebih kompetitif untuk menarik pengguna kerana banyak pilihan dan penawaran di pasaran.

Perkara ini memberi manfaat kepada pengguna dan isi rumah dengan membenarkan mereka membeli barangan dan perkhidmatan pada harga yang lebih berpatutan. Secara tidak langsung meningkatkan kuasa beli mereka.

Sebagai contoh, apabila AirAsia diperkenalkan ia telah berjaya memberi pengguna untuk mendapatkan tiket penerbangan dengan harga yang lebih rendah. Walaupun ada mungkin ada servis yang tidak termasuk seperti makan dan minum tetapi pengguna boleh membuat pilihan dan menaiki kapal terbang untuk sampai ke destinasi dengan harga yang lebih rendah.

Selain itu, persaingan akan memaksa perniagaan berusaha untuk menawarkan produk berkualiti tinggi atau mempunyai ciri-ciri yang unik kepada pengguna. Bagi mencipta produk-produk seperti ini syarikat akan melabur dalam penyelidikan dan pembangunan untuk memacu inovasi dan kemajuan teknologi produk.

Sudah tentu pengguna akan mendapat manfaat daripada pilihan-pilihan produk yang telah dipertingkatkan dan peningkatan nilai untuk wang mereka. Sebagai contoh, sebelum ini kereta menggunakan minyak atau petrol. Dengan penciptaan kereta elektrik penggunaan tenaga jauh lebih cekap dan kos elektrik kenderaan elektrik lebih murah berbanding mengisi petrol atau diesel untuk perjalanan pengguna.

Persaingan juga menggalakkan kedaulatan pengguna dan memperkasakan individu untuk membuat keputusan termaklum. Apabila pengguna membuat pilihan termaklum, mereka dapat mengutamakan keperluan, memahami akibat daripada tindakan dan mencapai kepuasan yang lebih besar dengan pembelian.

Ruangan ulasan di platform perdagangan elektronik seperti Amazon, Ali Baba, Shoppe, Lazada dan banyak lagi telah memperkasa pengguna dalam menilai dan membuat keputusan. Pengguna boleh membaca dan menilai sendiri kualiti sesuatu produk sebelum membuat pembelian. Bukan itu sahaja, pengguna juga mempunyai peluang menyuarakan pengalaman menggunakan produk tersebut, sama ada baik atau sebaliknya.

Secara tidak langsung, peniaga akan lebih bertanggungjawab dalam menyediakan perkhidmatan atau produk yang lebih berkualiti untuk pengguna.

Secara keseluruhan, persaingan pasaran yang adil adalah penting bagi mewujudkan suasana yang kondusif untuk pertumbuhan ekonomi, inovasi dan kebajikan pengguna. Ia juga mampu meningkatkan kecekapan, menyediakan harga yang kompetitif, memperkasa pengguna dan meningkatkan kualiti produk.

Dalam hal ini, pihak kerajaan mesti kekal neutral dan sentiasa berusaha ke arah menambahbaik persekitaran pasaran yang kompetitif agar faedah ini dapat dikecapi oleh pengguna.

Originally published here

Technological neutrality is the best mechanism of cyber security and protects consumer data privacy

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 th June 2023 – The Consumer Choice Center (CCC) emphasizes the
importance of governments supporting and maintaining technological neutrality in putting in
place the best mechanisms for cybersecurity systems and consumer data protection.

Representative of the Malaysian Consumer Choice Center, Tarmizi Anuwar said: “Technology
changes very quickly and faster than amendments or changes in laws. In this regard, laws that
are friendly to innovation and technology or so-called neutral technology need to be prepared so
that healthy competition between private companies becomes the best method of determining
the mechanism in data privacy regulations.”

In addition, Tarmizi commented on the recommendation of the Minister of Communications and
Digital that the private sector makes investments related to aspects of cyber security and data
privacy according to the appropriateness of their respective operational levels which is
considered positive. However, it is necessary to remain consistent and not put an excessive
burden on the private sector.

“The recommendation can be considered good because the enforcement of interoperability
standards can be prepared and implemented by the firm that handles the data, and is not
necessarily determined by law. This will also give space to start-up companies to operate at a
cost that matches their capabilities.”

“Basically, every company has its own interest in protecting the cyber security or privacy data of
their consumers. Excessive legal stipulations such as imposing specific software will cause an
increase in business costs and subsequently increase prices for consumers”, he said.

Explaining Malaysia’s efforts to collaborate with Southeast Asian countries in creating a data
sharing protocol to become a regional data processing hub, he said the government must make
the concept of industry-based data portability as the main standard.

“In order to become a regional data processing hub, the government needs to use industry
standards as the main policy and strategy. This standard is a faster and more efficient way and
is able to coordinate the differences in laws in each country to enforce and regulate portability
over the law.” he concluded.

Parliament’s Health special select committee needs to be independent from MOH’s influence

THE Consumer Choice Centre (CCC) is calling for a clear timeline for the Dewan Rakyat’s Special Select Committee on Health’s (SSCH) to review the Control of Smoking Product for Public Health Bill 2023 to ensure that the process can be done thoroughly and holistically.

The Malaysian CCC chapter representative Tarmizi Anuwar said the authorities need to announce a clear timeline to give room for the SSCH to conduct a detailed and holistic study in preparing a feedback report to the Control of Smoking Product for Public Health Bill 2023.

“It is important to ensure that this committee has adequate time to prepare its report,” he pointed out in media statement.

In the meantime, Tarmizi urged the government to prioritise regulating the vape industry that has long operated in the grey area.

“Regulating the vape industry must be the government’s utmost priority. In the interim, while the SSCH reviews the said Bill, the government can look into expanding existing legislations to include vape,” he suggested.

“This is even more vital now that nicotine has been exempted from the Poisons Act. In the long-run, efforts must be made to distinguish vape from tobacco. These are two very different products and work in completely different manners.”

Read the full text here

The Special Select Committee on Health needs to be independent from the influence of the Ministry of Health

KUALA LUMPUR, 15th June 2023 – The Consumer Choice Center (CCC) is calling for a clear timeline on the Special Select Committee On Health’s process to review the Control of Smoking Product for Public Health Bill 2023 to ensure that the process can be done thoroughly and holistically.

Representative of the Malaysian Consumer Choice Center, Tarmizi Anuwar said: “A clear timeline needs to be announced by the Government to give room for the Special Select Committee on Health to conduct a detailed and holistic study in preparing a feedback report to the Control of Smoking Product for Public Health Bill 2023. It is important to ensure that this committee has adequate time to prepare its report.”

In the meantime, Tarmizi urged the government to prioritise regulating the vape industry that has long operated in the grey area. 

“Regulating the vape industry must be the government’s utmost priority. In the interim, while the Special Select Committee On Health reviews the Control of Smoking Product for Public Health Bill 2023, the government can look into expanding existing legislations to include vape. This is even more vital now that nicotine has been exempted from the Poisons Act.”

“In the long-run, efforts must be made to distinguish vape from tobacco. These are two very different products, and work in completely different manners. While tobacco causes an annual death toll of eight million people each year, vape has been scientifically proven to be 95% less harmful than tobacco and the most effective quit aid,” he said.

Tarmizi has also urged the committee to hold additional engagement sessions with stakeholders who are particularly impacted, particularly consumers. Also involving experts from various fields.

“Based on the regulatory impact statement issued by the New Zealand government, during the Proposal for a Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan process, 5,200 people and organizations were involved through face-to-face or written methods. However, the Ministry of Health only conducted about 70 engagement sessions without revealing how many people and organizations were involved”, he said.

“This engagement also needs to involve experts from various fields who are not only limited to one point of view but need to include a variety of opinions because the cigarette problem is a complex problem and requires a comprehensive solution. Among them Tun Zaki who is the former Chief Justice once touched on the issue of individual freedom in the implementation of the generational endgame.”

Elaborating on the role of the Special Select Committee on Health, Tarmizi said the Ministry of Health must ensure that the committee must be free from the influence of the Ministry of Health and have autonomy in carrying out their responsibilities.

“The Ministry needs to ensure that the special select committee has autonomy in carrying out their studies without any interference from the Ministry. This is important to ensure that the members of the committee are able to carry out their responsibilities without any conflict of interest of the Ministry of Health as has happened before.”

New GEG Bill Is Too PROHIBITIVE And NEEDS Further Review

KUALA LUMPUR, 30 th May 2023 – Consumer Choice Center (CCC) urges the Government to reconsider its decision to table the Control of Tobacco Products and Smoking Bill 2022 which includes a generation endgame policy (GEG) in the upcoming Parliament session as further scrutinisation needs to be conducted on this matter that involves consumer preferences. 

GEG too harsh on vendors

Representative of the Malaysian Consumer Choice Center, Tarmizi Anuwar, said: “It is time for the government to stop dictating consumers on what can be done and what cannot be done. All consumers have a fundamental interest in defending personal and civic freedoms. Therefore, they should be given a personal choice to decide what works for them without excessive intervention.” 

“In addition, what consumers need are smart regulations that can protect them rather than restrict them because problems like smoking and vaping are multifaceted.”

Read the full text here 

The government must end spreading myths around vaping to prevent the spread of false information

KUALA LUMPUR, 25th May 2023 – The Consumer Choice Center (CCC) demands that the government must stop issuing myths or false statements about vaping being more dangerous than cigarettes in order to avoid misunderstandings and the spread of inaccurate information to consumers and the public.

Representative of the Malaysian Consumer Choice Center, Tarmizi Anuwar said: “It is time for the government to stop spreading myths or false information about vaping being supposedly more dangerous than cigarettes. Many internationally recognized scientific studies have concluded that switching completely to vaping provides important health benefits as opposed to continuing to smoke.

In September 2022, the latest research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London found that the use of vaping products compared to smoking leads to a significant reduction in exposure to toxins that promote cancer, lung disease and cardiovascular disease.

In addition, Tarmizi also said that claims about vaping causing diseases such as EVALI and popcorn lung is completely deceptive as advertised and there needs to be a law based on facts and scientific studies to regulate vaping products immediately.

“So much misleading news are connecting e-cigarettes to lung injuries known as EVALI. But the root cause is the abuse of prohibited substances containing vitamin E acetate and not legal vaping products.”

“A study conducted by Research Cancer UK indicates that e-cigarettes generally do not cause pulmonary disease known as popcorn lung. To date, no confirmed cases of popcorn lung have been reported among individuals using electronic cigarettes or vaping products.”

“That is why it is important that facts and science be used as the primary means of formulating legislation aimed at setting quality and safety standards for vaping. This not only protects consumers, but also ensures that vaping is one of the effective tools in helping people quit smoking.”

Regarding the so-called many teenagers around the world becoming addicted to nicotine and taking cigarettes because of vaping, Tarmizi believes there is no data to support the view that this problem is spreading among teenagers but believes that vaping underage should not be allowed.

Recently, the Director of the Center for Tobacco Products, Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Brian King said that vaping is not a gateway to smoking for teenagers. He said the use of cigarettes and smoke-free tobacco has declined more rapidly since 2012, when the use of e-cigarettes began to rise.

In addition, the health charity that aims to end the dangers of tobacco established by the Royal College of Physicians, Action on Smoking and Health, states that youth smoking rates are at an all-time low in the United Kingdom and that the use of electronic cigarettes by youth between 11-18 years old is rare.

“However, minors should not be allowed to vape. In order to avoid or reduce the risk of this happening, the government needs to enforce age restrictions through smart rules such as using modern age verification technology for online sales,” he concluded.

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