Melaka: The World Youth Foundation (WYF) urged the government to ban the sale of vape in the country following the identification of electronic cigarette devices being frequently misused with prohibited substances such as marijuana, methamphetamine, and other synthetic drugs. Its chairman, Datuk Mohd Ridhwan Mohd Ali, emphasized that this trend has become a major threat to the youth, particularly school students who are increasingly exposed to vaping.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, WYF has made it a priority to address this issue, achieving a resolution at their recent forum to advocate for a nationwide ban on vape sales. Datuk Mohd Ridhwan stated, "We will bring this resolution to the state government, the federal government, and the Ministry of Health in the near future." This statement was made during the 'Forum Bahaya Dadah Sintetik dan Ancaman Bahan Psikoaktif Baharu: Tren, Isu dan Penyelesaian', attended by Yang Dipertua Negeri Melaka Tun Mohd Ali Rustam.
Datuk Mohd Ridhwan highlighted that seven states-Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis, Kedah, Pahang, and Perak-have already implemented a ban on vape sales, and it is anticipated that Melaka will join them. Additionally, more than 30 countries, including neighboring nations such as Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Brunei, have prohibited the sale or use of vape.
Another resolution from the forum focuses on strengthening early prevention efforts. This includes expanding education on the dangers of synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances in educational institutions through a fact-based, scientific, and real-life experience approach. Enhancing the organization of briefings, seminars, and campaigns on the dangers of smoking and vaping is also part of the strategy.
The forum also resolved to enhance digital literacy, particularly using artificial intelligence and data analytics, to detect online drug distribution patterns. Efforts will be made to strengthen cooperation with social media companies and digital platform providers to detect, block, and remove content promoting online drug sales.
WYF has also called for improved monitoring mechanisms for the distribution of synthetic drugs via e-commerce platforms, social media, and the dark web. Datuk Mohd Ridhwan stressed the need for coordinated actions involving enforcement agencies to combat the drug distribution and abuse ecosystem.
Furthermore, the government is expected to enhance international cooperation, including with ASEAN member countries and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to combat drug trafficking and share intelligence on synthetic drugs. These efforts will focus on border control, ports, airports, and trade routes.