Existing Vape “Sinkholes” Cannot Be Left Unchecked To “Swallow” More Innocent Victims!
Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dato' Dzulkifli Abdul Razak
September 4, 2024
The decision by the Federal territories minister to end the search and rescue operation for an Indian national who fell into a deep sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur is indeed a very regrettable one.
The decision reportedly was based on the input given by all parties involved in the operation, including experts citing concerns over the safety of the team from the fire and rescue department, following the discovery of a 15-metre blockage in an Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd pipeline recently.
“Even though the blockage is not confirmed to include the victim’s remains, we are unable to proceed with the operation due to safety reasons, including the search team’s health as well as the fast currents that endanger them,” the minister was quoted as saying.
Another factor considered, allegedly, is the concern over the safety of the surrounding areas such as the discovery of at least another sinkhole near the previous one, which she described as “worrying”.
Nine days have passed since the tragic event took place involving a 48-year old visitor from India, who went missing after she fell into a sinkhole, eight-metre deep, while walking to a nearby temple on Jalan Masjid India in the capital city.
Authorities believe the woman was then swept into the sewer tunnels below, with gushing water running underground at the time due to recent heavy rain. Some suggested that soil erosion and potential pipe leaks may have weakened the ground contributing to the collapse.
A search and rescue operation was launched the same day, involving security forces and local authorities.
For the past eight days, the team has employed various techniques, including jetting, flushing, and pumping water out of the site to locate the victim, but to no avail.
The incident involving the sinkhole was totally unexpected, raising many questions among residents and visitors to the capital city in particular.
Another sinkhole appeared just 50 metres away from the first one a few days later, and led to the suspension of new construction approvals in the city.
Some parts of the main street have also been cordoned off by the police, with access only to rescue and search workers, government officials and the media.
That said, metaphorically there are other “sinkholes” that are yet to be fully explained by the said minister while serving as the Minister of Health prior to this.
The dubbed sinkhole happened also unexpectedly on April 1, 2023 following a unilateral decision to delist nicotine-based vape forms against the input given by parties involved, including local and international experts citing concerns over the health and safety related to the matter.
Also, unlike the recent incident, while losing an individual can cause so much grim and gloom to the nation, losing thousands, if not possibly millions, of underage children under 18 years for over 17 months cannot be less so.
But it seems this is not the case, as there is little interest in updating what is the latest on the vape misuse!
From what is known through unofficial sources, mainly parents and friends, vapes are rampantly misused by the underage, as predicted causing several “worrying” reactions expected from the addictive nicotine substance !
This health sinkhole is any time deeper and larger so as to accommodate such daunting numbers and counting.
Most likely, in more than one places throughout the nation making it even more “dangerous” to say the least!
Some might want to argue that there is no “death” reported, like in the “real” case.
Even if this is so, do we need for “death” to occur before things are acted upon seriously. What happened to the medical oath of “first do no harm”?
Now that harm is apparent, what’s next?
If in the real case soil erosion and leaking pipe are said to be involved, in the case of vape, it is moral erosion and leaking ethical standards are the prime suspects.
Someone must be made accountable for such serious violations.
After all, going by majority of scientific reports, regular nicotine-based vape users will become addicts, and in most cases will die of premature death! The gruesome outcome is just delayed. Not cancelled!
In summary, at the very minimal, the sinkhole case of August 23, must serves as a very relevant and timely reminder as to the vape “sinkhole” self-induced tragedy.
Therefore, let there be no double standards when it comes to protecting and saving lives professionally.
The innocent underage deserves just as much attention, if not more, and more must be seen to be done to “close” the vape sinkholes soonest, while holding those negligent immediately accountable without further delays as the case is clearly long overdue! – BACALAHMALAYSIA.MY
- The writer is former Rector, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)