Air quality remains concerning in parts of Peninsular Malaysia
Malaysia's Department of Environment website reported unhealthy Air Pollutant Index readings in multiple locations as of 11am on July 20.
PETALING JAYA — Air quality in several parts of Peninsular Malaysia remains concerning, with the Department of Environment (DOE) website reporting unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in multiple locations as of 11am on July 20.
Nilai in Negri Sembilan recorded the highest API at 160, placing it firmly in the 'unhealthy' category.
This was followed by Banting in Selangor, with an API of 153, also categorised as unhealthy.
Putrajaya recorded an API of 111, while Temerloh in Pahang posted a reading of 104.
Both areas fall within the 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' category, indicating that individuals with respiratory issues, the elderly, and young children may face adverse effects.
In the Klang Valley and surrounding areas, air quality remained moderate.
Kuala Lumpur recorded an API of 96, followed by Alor Gajah in Melaka at 94.
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Port Dickson and Seremban, both in Negri Sembilan, recorded readings of 92 and 91, respectively.
Bukit Rambai and Bandaraya Melaka followed closely with API readings of 89 and 88.
Over in East Malaysia, air quality remained moderate as well.
In Sabah, Kota Kinabalu recorded an API of 59, while Keningau posted 58.
In Sarawak, Miri recorded a reading of 62, Bintulu 61, and Kuching 55.
According to the DOE, an API reading of 0–50 is considered 'good', 51–100 is 'moderate', 101–200 is 'unhealthy', 201–300 is 'very unhealthy', and anything above 300 is categorised as 'hazardous'. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
ST Explains: What does it mean for etomidate to be listed under the Misuse of Drugs Act?
Etomidate, an addictive substance found in vapes, will soon be listed under the Misuse of Drugs Act. SINGAPORE – Etomidate, which is increasingly being abused through e-vaporisers , will be reclassified under the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA). Offences under the Act carry heavier sentencing and mandatory rehabilitation. Announcing this on July 20, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said it was now necessary to take stronger action, with the growing trend of e-vaporisers or vapes containing the drug. Kpods, which are vape juice mixed with etomidate, have been touted by online sellers to be undetectable by urine tests. What other drugs fall under MDA, and what are the penalties for the trafficking, possession and consumption of these? The Straits Times explains. 1. What is etomidate? Etomidate is an anaesthetic agent used in clinical practice to induce sedation. It is currently controlled under the Poisons Act, which restricts its use to licensed medical professionals. Under the Poisons Act, those caught possessing, using or trafficking pods containing etomidate face a maximum fine of $10,000 and/or a prison term of two years. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia At least 19 killed as Bangladesh air force plane crashes into college campus Singapore Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH Singapore 2 workers stranded on gondola dangling outside Raffles City Tower rescued by SCDF Business Why Singapore and its businesses stand to lose with US tariffs on the region Singapore NTU introduces compulsory cadaver dissection classes for medical students from 2026 Singapore Fine, driving ban for bus driver who hit lorry in BKE crash, causing fractures to passenger Singapore Jail for man who conspired with another to bribe MOH agency employee with $18k Paris trip Singapore New research institute will grow S'pore's talent in nuclear energy, safety 2. Why is there a need to reclassify etomidate? Vapes, often used to deliver nicotine, are banned in Singapore under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act. Besides nicotine, vapes have been found to contain even more harmful substances such as etomidate and ketamine. Mr Ong said that in a recent seizure of 100 vapes, a third were found to contain etomidate. Etomidate is meant to be administrated intravenously under strict medical supervision. Inhaling etomidate into the lungs through vapes can cause failure of vital organs. It can also induce confusion, tremors and unsteady gait, leading to falls and accidents. Accounts have surfaced of Kpods triggering erratic, violent and zombie-like behaviour in users . Like other substance addictions, etomidate can alienate the addict from loved ones. Readers have recounted their experiences of etomidate-laced vapes destroying their marriage and straining relationships with their children. Many have called for harsher penalties for those trafficking it, and for better coordination among agencies to help children curb their addiction rather than hand them fines. This would include ordering mandatory treatment for addicts and those caught using it. Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean of the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, for one, had proposed that current laws keep up with the technology – e-cigarettes and vapes – used to deliver synthetic drugs. 'If I am a police officer and I catch someone with a vape, and I detect that the vape cartridge is actually a Kpod... the person is not just caught for vaping, but also caught for possession of narcotics,' he said. Former Jurong GRC MP Tan Wu Meng, who had previously brought up the vaping issue in Parliament, said the scourge is concerning as Kpods could be a gateway for users to try harder drugs. 3. What does listing etomidate under the Misuse of Drugs Act mean? There are plans to reclassify etomidate as a Class C drug under the MDA. It will share this category with other substances which have lower potential for harm than Class A and Class B drugs, but are still dangerous enough to warrant strict control. Stimulants like mephentermine and pipadrol, and the hypnotic drug Erimin-5 (nimetazepam) are examples of Class C drugs. These substances may have legitimate medical uses, but are harmful when used in an unregulated manner. Here is what listing etomidate as a Class C drug would entail: a. Stiffer penalties The MDA imposes a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $20,000 for possession or use of controlled drugs. It also demands supervision and mandatory rehabilitation for drug addicts. The addict must remain at a rehabilitation centre for 12 months unless he or she is discharged earlier. For traffickers of controlled drugs, the MDA imposes even harsher penalties. Under the Poisons Act, the maximum penalty for trafficking controlled poisons is the same as that for possession or use: two years' prison term, a fine of $10,000, or both. In contrast, trafficking a Class C drug under the MDA will carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and five strokes of the cane. b. Whole-of-government effort in enforcement against etomidate-laced vapes The classification of etomidate as a Class C drug is a recognition of the scale of the vape problem here. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has seen an increase in reports on vaping-related offences, from more than 3,000 reports in 2024 to more than 2,500 reports in the first half of 2025. 4. How have agencies stepped up efforts recently? Mr Ong said on July 20 that various agencies – the National Parks Board, National Environment Agency, police, Health Sciences Authority and Land Transport Authority – are already coordinating enforcement against the consumption of e-vaporisers. When seized by agencies, the vapes first go to the Ministry of Health for testing. 'If it is just nicotine, we will process and fine them... In the most serious cases involving drugs, the Central Narcotics Bureau will have to come in, so it will have to be a concerted effort,' said Mr Ong. From July 21, the HSA has also extended the operating hours for its hotline to report vaping-related offences. The hotline now operates from 9am to 9pm daily, including on public holidays. Previously, it operated only on weekdays, from 9am to 5.30pm. The HSA has also launched a new online portal to report vaping-related offences –
CNA
5 hours ago
- CNA
CNA Explains: What to know about etomidate, the drug Singapore plans to make illegal
SINGAPORE: An anaesthetic agent that has been found in vapes will soon be listed by Singapore as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Sunday (Jul 20). The substance, called etomidate, was found during recent random testing in a third of the more than 100 vapes seized by the authorities. Vape products laced with etomidates are called K-pods. The use of vapes, especially those that are laced with etomidate, is increasing, Mr Ong said. E-vaporisers are banned and controlled under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sales) Act. "But today, e-vaporisers are no longer just used for the delivery of nicotine, Mr Ong added. "They are being used to deliver a range of substances and what we are seeing is the delivery of etomidate. That is a serious problem." The minister warned that consuming etomidate is "very damaging" and urged those consuming etomidate-laced vapes to give it up before the "law catches up" with them. What is etomidate, exactly? Etomidate is a short-acting agent administered intravenously to induce sedation for patients in surgery. It can also be used in certain medical processes such as intubation. Adjunct Associate Professor Puah Ser Hon from Tan Tock Seng Hospital explained: "It has a very fast onset. It doesn't affect the blood pressure too much and it is quite a stable agent." However, this is within the medical context, when etomidate is used in calculated doses and is monitored by doctors and nurses who are trained to use it, the senior consultant added. Adj Assoc Prof Puah is the head of the hospital's department of respiratory and critical care medicine. What are its effects? Used outside a controlled medical environment, etomidate is "extremely dangerous". Dr Lee Chuen Peng, a respiratory specialist from private clinic The Respiratory Practice, said that vaping in general can lead to a condition known as Evali, short for E-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury. For those who are asthmatic, a single exposure can cause them to have an asthma attack, which can be life-threatening. Most commonly, however, etomidate is known for its suppression of adrenal glands, Dr Lee added. "It can shut down your adrenal glands that are critical for producing certain stress hormones like cortisol. This suppression can last for a few days and leave your body unable to handle stress." Assistant Professor Sewa Duu Wen, a senior consultant specialising in respiratory and critical care medicine at Singapore General Hospital, said that inhaling etomidate can reduce anxiety levels for a short period of time but the feeling passes quickly. "They will need to use it several times to achieve the same level of sensation," he added, pointing to its addictive property. When its effects start to wear off, users may deal with withdrawals such as increased anxiety and agitation. They may also get hallucinations and fall into a dissociative state. "This disassociated state can be quite disturbing and can sometimes lead to certain actions that the user didn't intend to do, and that's where the potential of them causing self-harm may occur," Asst Prof Sewa said. Dr Tan Sheng Neng, a senior consultant psychiatrist from The Safety Net, a private psychiatric practice, agreed that the fast-acting nature of etomidate can give users a "good feeling", leading users to rely on it as a coping mechanism. What are the long-term dangers? Prolonged use of etomidate can affect the adrenal gland's production of hormones released in response to stress. "It becomes a vicious circle," Dr Tan said, adding that users may be more susceptible to depression or anxiety. Adj Assoc Prof Puah, who also leads the National Healthcare Group's Respiratory Health Steering Committee Smoking Cessation Workgroup, said that it is still early to be certain about the effects of the long-term use of etomidate, but what they are seeing now is "already worrying". Even without etomidate, vapes and nicotine can stunt brain growth and cause attention issues. "You add etomidate to that, you add all sorts of illegal substances to these pods, you can imagine that the effects are double, triple, even 10 times," he added. "Why do we want to wait till we have information and act when it's too late?" Giving an example of another negative effect, Asst Prof Sewa said that the prolonged use of etomidate can suppress the vape user's ability to produce hormones essential in preventing low blood pressure or low sugar count. "It can lead to an adrenal crisis, where the patient may go into seizures or even coma," he warned, adding that there have been reports of such cases in patients who have abused the drug for a long time and in large doses. How can one overcome addiction to etomidate? Dr Munidasa Winslow, a senior consultant psychiatrist at private clinic Promises Healthcare, said that people who use etomidate should know that they can get help and recover. "Substance use is rarely just about the drug. It is often tied to deeper emotional or psychological roots," he said. Users who find themselves wanting to seek help should start by talking to someone they trust. After that, they should speak to a qualified healthcare professional. "Avoid the instinct to quit abruptly on your own," he advised. Etomidate is a potent sedative and its misuse can have unpredictable and potentially dangerous effects. Depending on how often it is used, stopping suddenly might lead to withdrawal symptoms and may increase the risk of relapse. Dr Winslow also said that recovery must be approached with a plan, for example, through therapy or a support group. "What is more important is understanding why it became a crutch in the first place, and how to replace that with healthier, more sustainable ways to cope." What are other jurisdictions doing about it? Across Asia, some governments have stepped up regulation on etomidate. The authorities in China officially placed etomidate under control in October 2023, the Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission stated. More recently, Hong Kong classified etomidate – known commonly as "space oil" there – under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance in February. Under the ordinace, anyone found in possession or consumption of the substance is subject to a maximum penalty of seven years' jail and a fine of HK$1 million (S$163,400). How does Singapore's move fit with its overall approach to vaping and drug use? Assistant Professor Yvette van der Eijk from the National University of Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health said that classifying etomidate as an illegal drug will give the authorities greater leverage to curb its misuse in vaping devices. In Singapore, all offenders caught for the purchase, use and possession of vapes, or e-vaporisers, are now referred to the Health Science Authority and subject to a fine of up to S$2,000 (about US$1,560). Etomidate is a controlled substance under the Poisons Act. However, once it is listed under the Misuse of Drugs Act, people who consume it will be treated "no differently" from those who consume hard drugs and narcotics such as cannabis and cocaine, Mr Ong said. This means that anyone caught using etomidate will be subject to supervision, have to undergo mandatory rehabilitation and may also be committed to a drug rehabilitation centre. Repeat offenders will be prosecuted and may be jailed for at least a year. Asst Prof van der Eijk said: "This move not only disrupts the supply and demand for K-pods, but also reinforces Singapore's zero-tolerance approach to emerging forms of substance abuse." She also said that the move will raise awareness on the significant health risks associated with drug-containing vapes.
Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Straits Times
In Syria's Sweida, bodies wait to be identified at overwhelmed hospital
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Medical workers clean and disinfect a hospital bed outside Sweida National Hospital in southern Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida on July 20. SWEIDA, Syria - At the main hospital in south Syria's Sweida city, dozens of bodies are still waiting to be identified as the death count of days of sectarian clashes continues to rise. 'We have handed 361 bodies over to family members, but we still have 97 unidentified corpses,' a forensic medicine official at facility said on condition of anonymity. Clashes erupted on July 13 in Syria's Druze-majority province of Sweida between local fighters and Sunni Bedouin, spiralling and drawing in government forces, tribal allies of the Bedouin and the military of neighbouring Israel. Witnesses, Druze factions and a monitor have accused government forces of siding with the Bedouin and committing abuses including summary executions when they entered Sweida last week. More than 1,100 people, most of them Druze fighters and civilians, have been killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, whose toll also includes several hundred government security personnel. Health authorities have not released a comprehensive death toll. More than 450 bodies had been taken to Sweida's main hospital by the evening of July 20 , while bodies were still being collected from streets and homes in the city. 'The dead bodies sent a terrible smell through all the floors of the hospital,' said nurse Hisham Breik, who said he had not left the facility since the violence began. 'The situation has been terrible. We couldn't walk around the hospital without wearing a mask,' he said, his voice trembling, adding that the wounded included women, children and the elderly. Medical personnel have been working in tough conditions at the hospital, which has seen clashes around it and has been flooded with wounded, some of whom were lying in the corridors. Bodies have yet to be removed from villages in Sweida province's north and west, the hospital administration and health workers said. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that hospitals and health centres in Sweida province were out of service, with 'reports of unburied bodies raising serious public health concerns'. Humanitarian access to Sweida 'remains highly constrained', it said a statement late on July 20 . 'Catastrophe' The Sweida national hospital has remained open despite the dire situation that has also included supply shortages and water and power cuts. A first Syrian Red Crescent convoy entered Sweida on July 20 carrying UN humanitarian assistance including food, water, medical supplies and fuel, OCHA said. A Red Crescent official told AFP the supplies included body bags. Another convoy facilitated by the Red Crescent was to leave Damascus on July 21 , OCHA said. But as the supplies were unloaded on on July 20 , activist Moatasem Aflak, who works for a body affiliated with the Sweida health department, told AFP that the aid 'doesn't cover everything required'. 'We received water and medical supplies but we need more because we are facing a medical catastrophe,' he said, adding that a list of requirements had been handed to the Red Crescent. 'We haven't yet been able to count the bodies' and some families have been unable to arrive to identify their loved ones, Mr Aflak said. 'We are trying to cooperate with the Red Crescent to put the bodies in bags and establish a mass grave to transfer them to,' he added. According to the United Nations, the violence has displaced more than 128,000 people, an issue that has also made collecting and identifying bodies more difficult. AFP
