{
  "id": 17891306,
  "title": "Explain liquid nicotine U-turn, MMA urges health minister",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/explain-liquid-nicotine-u-turn-mma-urges-health-minister",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-03T01:31:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/11/03/explain-liquid-nicotine-u-turn-mma-urges-health-minister"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In May, the Kuala Lumpur High Court overturned a ministerial order that exempted liquid and gel nicotine from the poisons list, deeming it unlawful due to a lack of consultation with the Poisons Board. The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has called upon health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad to clarify reports that the government is once again attempting to exempt liquid nicotine from the poisons list. MMA president Dr L Sivanaesan expressed deep concern over these reports, which were reportedly endorsed by the Poisons Board. Sivanaesan emphasized that such a move would raise serious questions about the government's dedication to public health protection. He urged the health minister to provide a clear explanation regarding the public health rationale behind the proposed exemption. The MMA also reminded the government of the High Court's ruling in May this year, where the Poisons Board had previously opposed the exemption of liquid nicotine. In May, then health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa had issued an exemption order for liquid and gel nicotine from the poisons list, which was subsequently struck down by the High Court. The court found that the exemption was primarily driven by economic considerations related to the government's plans to tax vape liquids containing nicotine. The court also noted that the exemption created a legal gap in regulating nicotine vape products prior to the implementation of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024, which came into force on October 1, 2024. Sivanaesan argued that merely regulating vapes was insufficient, and that the government should consider banning them altogether, especially given the increasing risk of drug-laced vapes. He urged Dzulkefly to clarify his position on vaping, highlighting that in the previous year, the minister had stated that it was only a matter of time before vapes would be banned in Malaysia. Sivanaesan questioned whether the government's commitment to banning vapes remained steadfast or if that commitment had been abandoned. He also raised concerns about the government's priorities, questioning whether public health or commercial interests and tax revenue were being prioritized. MMA's stance was clear: vapes posed a significant threat to public health, particularly among young Malaysians, and should be banned nationwide.",
  "summary": "Malaysian Medical Association also asks if Dzulkefly Ahmad has changed his stance on banning vapes nationwide.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}