Don't miss small window of time to table GEG Bill this year, says Lam Thye

PETALING JAYA: Only a small window of time is available to address the problem of vaping among teenagers before it becomes endemic, says the Alliance for a Safe Community.

That window remains open only for three days from Nov 28 to Nov 30 this year when the Health Minister can table in Parliament the much-touted bill to control smoking products, said its chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

“If we miss the boat now, the next opportunity will only be when Dewan Rakyat meets again next year, by which time the problem of vaping and e-cigarettes among the young would have increased manifold,” said Lee.

He added that the proposed Control of Smoking Products for Public Health 2023 Bill - otherwise known as the Generational End Game (GEG) - has been on the cards for almost six months now.

“Every day that the bill is delayed will mean the problem will escalate in the interim,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Nov 8).

Lee said that parents of school kids were already worried about the rampant use of vapes and e-cigarettes among youngsters in the community.

He said that the Education Ministry had announced a plan in April of this year to address vape-related issues among children but questioned the efficacy of such measures.

The plan then was to implement measures including group guidance sessions, anti-smoking and anti-vape campaigns, lectures, exhibitions as well as through curriculum and co-curricular activities in schools, he said.

These measures were also to have included the innovative ‘Five Minute Anti-Cigarette/Vape Programme, Lee added.

“But have the students been made aware of the health consequences, such as lung problems and nicotine addiction? And told about real-life stories to make the information relatable?

“Additionally, have the teenagers been encouraged to explore alternative activities and hobbies that can take their minds off vaping?

“Whether it's sports, arts, or any other interests, finding healthy outlets can be a great distraction,” he said.

Lee added that local support groups or counselling services that specialise in helping teenagers overcome addiction could also be considered.

Healthier substitutes such as chewing gum, eating healthy snacks, or practicing deep breathing exercises as ways to cope with cravings could also be a way to help stave off the smoking addiction, said Lee.

“In implementing measures to discourage vaping and e-cigarettes, we must always remember that we must approach this issue with empathy and patience.

“Whatever measures we adopt, we must always remember that teens are more likely to quit vaping when they feel supported and understood rather than judged, humiliated or punished,” he said.