Berani dalam Benar – At the Height of Hypocrisy! Alcohol, NO! Vape, OK?
Malaysia seems almost "drunk" with the latest issue on "free-flow" alcohol served during a major travel event by a related ministry. It has drawn several arguments and counter-arguments all round mainly of politicking, the power-grabbing type. The minister involved reportedly has been publicly reprimanded and has somehow upped the ante among netizens. This adds much anger to the already dizzying situation.
The outcry is mounting, bursting many new perspectives into the air, which otherwise were kept largely below the radar. Chances are these will cause more embarrassment resulting in even more harm to the nation's well-being and image internationally. Similar issues have occurred off-and-on before but were short-lived and self-contained. This time it is alleged to have broadened into other pending and unsettled issues ranging from football scandals to citizenship applications. Accusations of double standards and playing to the gallery were hurled to the powers that be and its cherry-picking leadership! One popular public personality even expressed impatience to cast his vote, seemingly moved by the chaotic situation.
Be that as it may, no one is linking the case to the "free-flow" liquid and gel nicotine-laced vape products. "Free-flow" because since April 1, a couple of years ago, the vape gate was legally opened by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to welcome those who were below 18 years to vape to their heart's content. Unlike the current alcohol melo-drama that is limited to a hotel among adults (no below 18 years hopefully), vapes can be consumed anywhere, anytime and by anyone as of that tragic date. It has been years since, many attempts to rescind it have resulted in almost complete silence. No minister has been reprimanded, public or otherwise. In fact, the said minister claimed that it was a "cabinet-decision" at the advice of the finance minister to impose tax on the related vape items beginning the April's date then. So, the "free-flow" surged until today with no hoo-ha from anyone except for some of the medical and health fraternities, unlike that of the alcoholic night where reportedly enforcement officers played a role to ensure there is no drunk-driving and domestic violence too!
Last week however MOH made a much-awaited announcement, namely, it is "pressing ahead with its plan for a nationwide vape ban and projects that healthcare costs for vape-related illnesses could soar to RM400 million by 2030." The timing is a huge surprise but not the content! It is precisely because of the latter that the health professionals and other concerned groups and individuals were up in arms when the April's fool prank was used against all Malaysians in the eyes of the world. The only nation to do so far, despite several warnings from authorities abroad including the World Health Organisation (WHO). The same MOH then was utterly dumbfounded, purposely putting millions of lives on the line. So why only now that the ministry is preparing to submit a Cabinet memorandum as part of efforts to realise the move. Plus, it also claimed that upon conducting a Revelatory Impact Analysis (RIA), the estimated cost for treating diseases linked to e-cigarettes such as e-vali (referring to e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury) has already reached RM244.8 million. “If this continues, we may be forced to spend more than RM300 or RM400 million by 2030,” according to MOH. This is in stark contradiction to the notorious alcohol "free-flow" gala event that is said to "generate" some hefty income of about RM400 million over the three days, making the MOH appeared by some as “backward, unconcerned, or insensitive” compared to some six states like Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis, Kedah and Pahang, in restricting the use of the poison (like other Asean countries such as Brunei, Singapore, and even Laos), in fully protecting the well-being of children and their future generations. Let alone wasting scarce public resources on tragic vape-related consequences as mentioned. The global shift toward banning of vapes reflects a growing recognition of the rising costs of youth addiction and public health care. The foot-dragging slowness by MOH in taking up the overdue case is indeed regrettable, indicating its reluctance to jump into action as the case of the “free-flow” alcohol. The contradiction and hypocrisy cannot be clearer in restricting vape use. After all, the notion to ban vape has not been taken seriously and suffered delays after delays in the last few years. It is hoped that the government has really sober up and can walk the talk, literally in a straight line! No more U-turns. Failing which alcohol “free-flow” ought to be celebrated similar to the vape-status at anytime, anywhere and by anyone of all age groups!
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