Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control secretary-general Sha鈥檃ni Abdullah (fifth from left) and Pemadam鈥檚 Hashim Anang (third from right) reiterated their call for a nationwide ban on vape sales and promotions.KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC) today warned that while vapes may look sleek and modern, they pose the same old dangers of addiction and drug abuse.At a press conference marking International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, MCTC and the Malaysian Association for the Prevention of Drug Abuse (Pemadam) reiterated their call for a nationwide ban on vape sales and promotions.They cited a growing trend of vape liquids laced with drugs and increasing misuse among students.鈥淭he design may be new, but the risk is familiar,鈥 said MCTC secretary-general Sha鈥檃ni Abdullah.鈥淭hat old line about vape being 鈥95% less harmful鈥 is misleading when taken out of context,鈥 he said, referring to a report commissioned by Public Health England, an executive agency of England鈥檚 Health and Social Care Department.鈥淚t referred to regulated use in medical settings, not mass retail.鈥漇ha鈥檃ni also warned that current vape products often contain additives like ammonium, which increase nicotine absorption. Some are mixed with psychoactive substances such as THC and ketamine, he said.鈥淎fter 2015, the composition of vape liquids became more complex and dangerous. That early study no longer applies.鈥漇ha鈥檃ni added that the appeal of vape, which is odourless, flavoured, and easy to conceal, made it a gateway to drug use, especially among teens.He urged the government to enforce the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act (Act 852) which came into effect on Oct 1 last year.Act 852 is aimed at regulating vape sales, advertising and promotion.However, full enforcement has yet to begin, and vape devices remain widely available, including online, Sha鈥檃ni said.He said delaying enforcement could heighten health and safety risks linked to drug misuse through vape.鈥淟ungs are for clean air. There鈥檚 no reason to let in harmful chemicals just because the packaging looks modern.鈥滻n June, the health ministry assured that nicotine-based vape liquids remained tightly regulated under Act 852, despite the green light for their sale in Malaysia.Hashim Anang, a member of Pemadam鈥檚 National Anti-Drug Council, raised concerns about students hiding vape devices under motorcycle seats before entering school, pointing to a lack of awareness among parents and teachers.鈥淓nforcement alone won鈥檛 work. We need to raise awareness in homes and classrooms,鈥 he said.