Its president S M Mohamed Idris said the items posed a serious risk to health and safety, and could inflict trauma and pain to people.

“We are also keen to know how such dangerous toys could be imported and sold under the very noses of the authorities,” he said in a statement following a press conference in Penang today.

He said the devices came in forms such as novelty pens and toy pistols which gave the person using the pen or pressing the trigger a sharp shock.

He said the domestic trade, co-operatives and consumerism ministry needed to immediately seize and ban all such products sold in the market, and the health ministry should look into the impact the toys’ exposure had on a person’s health.

Idris said CAP had found the items in the market during a recent survey and were able to buy “Shock Chewing Gum” at RM6 each.

“It is designed to look like Wrigley’s chewing gum complete with ingredients,” he said.

“When someone pulls the ‘chewing gum’, it triggers a switch which sends an electric charge through the arm of the person.”

Idris said the packaging carried a warning that the toy should not be given to children below the age of 15, people above 50 and those having health conditions.

“However, who is monitoring the purchase and use of such toys? In fact, anybody can buy it and use it on anyone as they (suppliers) are targeting children to buy them,” he said.

Idris said such toys had been banned in some school districts in the US, and in countries such as Greece and Cyprus.

He said a teacher in Sacramento in the US had reportedly suffered from arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and nerve damage in the hand after receiving a shock from a novelty pen given by a student.

“We appeal to those who possess or think of buying one of these toys to seriously consider if they want to hurt their friends for what they consider as ‘fun’.

“They might think that it is amusing but it is not so to the person who suffers the agonising pain, besides being of potential danger to those with health concerns,” he said.