Realigning Ethical, Moral & Legal Considerations Is Critical In Any Reshuffling Exercises

Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dato' Dzulkifli Abdul Razak 
Opinion - Bacalah Malaysia 
December 26, 2023 

The Prime Minister’s media interaction with a youth as to reshuffling of the Cabinet captured the attention of many. 

Some said it was done in jest, yet the message received was taken in positive light. 

After all, youths are the future leaders of the nation. More so, when the government recognised Undi18. Of late, even trusted them to freely use nicotine-laced liquid and gel vape products for more than eight months now. 

It all began when delisting of the item was unilaterally done by the then Minister of Health. If youth can handle the nicotine wisely, they are ready for the rough and tumble. A litmus test for a true future leader!  

However, following the reshuffle as announced on the Dec 12, there seemed to be second thoughts. Many were wondering if the same person or any of his friends were consulted in arriving at the decisions. Several clear expectations were not met, based on the reactions from a variety of sources including youth in the social media.  

As always, the knee-jerk counter-response: it is impossible to please them all. 

For sure. But, it is crucial to ensure most are happy to have a credible Cabinet to serve the rakyat and meeting their expectations. The last Cabinet appointments have been a let down to say the least. 

Yet only one minister was dropped drawing irks from netizens. With is more, there were new additions from the older generations.  

Not youth! This clear deviation raised criticism as to why a bloated Cabinet of the wrong kind to start off with? 

In any case, one laudable move is the replacement of the health minister portfolio. The Prime Minister admitted in public that the country needs Dr Dzul’s experience! Referring to Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, the Minister of Health in the previous governments. It created a huge sigh of relief all over. 

A wish that could be earlier met and avoid some of the unpalatable experiences leading to unhappiness even among  health-related professionals and civil society members. Not only the outcomes were questioned, more so the processes and procedures involved. 

For example, the reshuffling of the toxic and addictive substance, nicotine, from the Poison List under the Poison Act, 1952 which took effect from April 1, 2023. The delisting directed primarily to those under the age of 18 years with regard to the use of nicotine in vapes as liquids or gels was a shamble! Although the general negative health effects are somewhat equivalent to that of smoking, yet the latter is remained prohibited under the same Act. 

Which is why the delisting is deemed nonsensical if not contradictory to which a large segment of the population finds it objectionable!  

Many insist an immediate rectification, namely, putting back nicotine under the Poison List like it was before. 

Unfortunately, this was ignored, citing that the decision was legally valid and no retraction is necessary. 

The tragedy drags on until today where the number of students of the school-going age implicated continues to heighten as long as the decision to delist is intact. Meaning, the youth population are deliberately subjected to avoidable harms that were well controlled under the Poison List. 

For a career medical professional-turned-politician failing to appreciate such clear harms is unbecoming ethically and morally speaking, regardless as to how ‘correct’ it is from the legal viewpoint! 

In political – more so the healthcare – sectors, therefore, realigning ethical-moral-legal considerations is of utmost important. 

The first two must be uncompromising, regardless of what the ruling on the legal front would be, especially when the tendency of political interference seems high, induced by some narrowly vested interest groups – as alleged in this case. 

Thus, the rule of thumb must be fully understood and adhered to, to the fullest. 

The Health Minister must be held accountable to the very last. Citing political pressures, namely from above, or as a mere collective decision of the Cabinet (majority of whom are medical illiterates) cannot hold water. 

Lest the Minister is unfit for the job by subjecting the rakyat to decisions that treat them as pawns of irresponsible political meanderings! While risking their well being. 

This is precisely the case when the former Minister of Health was sued by three eminent NGOs – a first for the nation, a blemish to the history of the Ministry of Health, held in high regards by all Malaysians, even worldwide, most recently in the arduous journey to make the country a safe haven against the Covid-19 pandemic. 

With the trend that the virus is said to make a comeback – signaled by the need to put on the facial mask in public once again; plus, the talk of a possible third booster dose, the next arduous journey may even be more challenging whereby the delisting of nicotine is bound to further complicate the situation. 

Given the fact that nicotine vaping group activities are on the rise, the risk involved is even greater. 

Instead it must be eliminated totally through the rectification the past callous actions by detoxifying the worsening vaping environment brought about unilaterally by the previous administration. 

Being a toxicology, the current minister know exactly what to do to hit the ground running. Much time has been loss. – BACALAHMALAYSIA.MY 

• The writer is Rector, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)