Malaysia anti-tobacco groups call for stronger enforcement as unregulated vapes remain on sale offline and online

Key Takeaways

• Malaysian anti-tobacco groups say unregulated vapes are still being sold in physical stores and vape devices remain available online
• A tobacco-control leader said Act 852 has been in place long enough and rejected “clearing old stock” as an excuse, urging a tighter crackdown
• A consumer group welcomed removals from major e-commerce platforms but warned individual websites and private social media groups remain a key channel
• Calls were made for measurable enforcement targets and for online sellers to be registered under the Companies Act 2016 via the Companies Commission of Malaysia
• An activist alleged sundry shops are increasingly selling openly and cited a claim from Malaysia’s George Town, Penang involving free vape juices for customer referrals, calling for an immediate blanket ban

2Firsts,March 2, 2026

According to The Star, anti-tobacco groups said the continued sale of unregulated vapes in physical stores and the online availability of vape devices show an urgent need for comprehensive enforcement in Malaysia.

Prof Dr Murallitharan Munisamy (Murallitharan Munisamy), president of the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control, said sufficient time has passed since the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) was enacted and called for a tighter crackdown. He said excuses such as clearing old stock were unacceptable, noting the Health Ministry had already provided a long runway on the issue. 

He urged action against unregulated vape sales and said problems could persist even under a future ban without a comprehensive enforcement infrastructure and ecosystem. He also said enforcement agencies cannot tackle the issue alone and encouraged the public to report non-compliance through the JomLapor portal.

On the decline of online sales on major e-commerce platforms, Murallitharan said it reflects stricter policing by the Health and Communications ministries, but added that sales continue on individual websites and private social media groups and called for a more comprehensive review.

Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah (Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah), Tobacco Control coordinator at the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA), welcomed the removal of vape products from major e-commerce platforms, saying it signals large marketplace operators are beginning to recognise their responsibility in preventing the sale and promotion of harmful products, especially those targeting or easily accessible to minors. 

He stressed the importance of clear, measurable enforcement targets and said simple age-declaration pop-ups are meaningless in loosely verified digital commerce. He said online sellers should be properly registered business entities under the Companies Act 2016 through the Companies Commission of Malaysia.

Anti-tobacco activist NV Subbarow (NV Subbarow) said more sundry shops are beginning to sell the products without concern and claimed a store in Malaysia’s George Town, Penang was giving complimentary vape juices to regular buyers if they introduced new customers. He argued there should be no time frame when introducing a ban and that it should be immediate and all-encompassing.

Image credit: The Star