This is the moment three boys suck on a straw-shaped sweet and blow out vapour as they try a controversial new confectionery criticised for encouraging children to smoke.
Malaysia’s Ministry of Health is reportedly carrying out checks on a new sweet marketed as ‘Ghost Smoke’ after it was slammed by the Malaysian Community Care Foundation.
Video Credit: AsiaWire/@xbgsx666
In the video footage, shared on Facebook by netizen ‘Mohd Fadli Salleh’ and viewed 140,000 times, three children are seen sucking on the straw-shaped sweet and then blowing out vapour as if they are smoking a cigarette.
The boys in the footage are reportedly from the city of Kota Kinabalu in the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah where ‘Ghost Smoke’ has become a popular new trend.
According to local media, the sweet is on sale in many shops and is even available to buy online for just 10 MYR (2 GBP) for a packet of 30.
Meanwhile, it has yet to be seen whether the product contains any ingredients that could pose a health risk, and Malaysia’s Ministry of Health said in a statement that the Food Safety and Quality Division is currently carrying out tests.
Halim Ishak, chairman of the NGO Malaysian Community Care Foundation, slammed the product, saying: “It is regrettable that children as young as seven are purchasing it.
“Something needs to be done immediately to curb this, especially now that the government is striving to create smoke-free zones nationwide.”
Mohd Fauzi Sahat, chairman of the school Parent-Teacher Association, said that a complaint had been filed with the district health department.
Meanwhile, senior paediatrician Dr. Amar Singh said that he believes the sweet could encourage smoking.
The probe continues.
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Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
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