The Consumers Association of Penang of Malaysia: Should Follow Singapore's Lead in Treating E-Cigarettes as Drugs for Comprehensive Regulation

Aug.25.2025
The Consumers Association of Penang of Malaysia: Should Follow Singapore's Lead in Treating E-Cigarettes as Drugs for Comprehensive Regulation
Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) urges Malaysian government to follow Singapore in treating e-cigarettes as a drug threat.

Key points: 

·Clear and forceful demands: The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) in Malaysia is directly calling on the Malaysian government to follow Singapore's lead in treating e-cigarettes and e-liquids as drug threats, urging comprehensive tightening of related laws rather than conventional regulatory strengthening, with specific and strong demands. 

·Exposing key health risks: Explicitly pointing out that most e-cigarettes on the Malaysian market contain dangerous and addictive chemicals such as diacetyl, and highlighting the rapid increase in usage among students, youth, and young women, emphasizing the urgency of the problem. 

·Sharp questioning and criticism: Questioning "who is responsible for the deaths of young people due to smoking e-cigarettes, and can the government compensate," directly addressing the core issue; meanwhile criticizing parliamentarians and state legislators for prioritizing the business interests of e-cigarette companies over public health, showing a clear stance. 

·Focus on government attitude and actions: Emphasizing the need for the Malaysian Ministry of Health to promptly clarify whether the e-cigarette ban has been implemented, stressing the government's need to abandon delays, demonstrate a firm stance, and focus on the possibility of policy implementation. 

·Singapore's case is instructive: Details mentioning Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's stance on strict regulation of e-cigarettes at the National Day Rally, emphasizing his concern for youth health, providing a clear reference direction for Malaysia.

 


 

According to a report by 8tvnews on August 24th, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) in Malaysia is urging the government to follow in Singapore's footsteps and classify e-cigarettes and e-liquids as a threat similar to drugs, and to tighten relevant laws to prevent the younger generation from falling into addiction and the harmful effects of harmful chemicals.

 

The Penang Consumers Association issued a warning today (24th) stating that most e-cigarette products in the Malaysian market contain dangerous chemicals, including potentially addictive components such as etomidate, posing a serious threat to the health of adolescents.

 

Who is responsible if young people die from smoking e-cigarettes? Can the government compensate for this?

 

NV Subbarow, a senior education personnel of the Consumer Association of Penang, criticized that many members of parliament and state assemblymen have not paid enough attention to the above-mentioned issue. Instead, they tend to prioritize discussions with e-cigarette businesses for commercial interests, neglecting public health.

 

He pointed out that although the number of traditional cigarette smokers is decreasing, the use of e-cigarettes and e-liquids is rapidly increasing among students, young people, and young women. If not sternly addressed, more adolescents may become addicted to e-cigarettes in the future, leading to drug-like dependency problems.

 

Subalao also urged the Ministry of Health to quickly clarify whether they will implement a ban on e-cigarettes. He emphasized that the government cannot continue to delay and must take a firm stance.

 

The association also highly appreciates the stance of Singaporean Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. Heng Swee Keat recently spoke at the National Day Rally and directly addressed e-cigarettes as a serious issue that should be strictly regulated. He also plans to impose heavy penalties on illegal users and provide supervision and counseling for addicts.

 

Subarau pointed out that this reflects the high level of importance that the Singaporean leadership places on the health and future of the younger generation, and is a practice that Malaysia should consider emulating.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

PMI Global Communications Chief Moira Gilchrist: Why AI Matters More Than Ever in the Smoke-Free Transition
PMI Global Communications Chief Moira Gilchrist: Why AI Matters More Than Ever in the Smoke-Free Transition
Philip Morris International (PMI) Chief Global Communications Officer Moira Gilchrist said artificial intelligence is changing how companies understand audiences, manage owned information channels and communicate business transformation. PMI is using AI-generated audience personas to test messaging while optimizing its corporate website and other owned channels for large language models. As PMI continues its transition from cigarettes toward smoke-free products, Gilchrist said owned data and corporate channels are becoming increasingly important in demonstrating the scale of that transformation.
Aug.26
EU Tobacco Tax Reform Targets November Push as Sweden Holds Nicotine-Pouch Minimum at €20 per Kilogram
EU Tobacco Tax Reform Targets November Push as Sweden Holds Nicotine-Pouch Minimum at €20 per Kilogram
The Irish presidency of the Council of the European Union is using bilateral talks to push the bloc’s Tobacco Taxation Directive toward a political agreement in November. According to Law360, citing an EU official, Sweden is unwilling to accept a minimum excise threshold above €20 per kilogram for nicotine pouches. Council negotiations have already lowered the European Commission’s original proposal, but a May 2026 presidency compromise still set the minimum at 10% of the tax-inclusive retail price or €30 per kilogram in 2028-29, with higher levels later.
Market
Sep.17 by 2Firsts Perspectives
BAT CFO Dragos Constantinescu Takes Office, Returning After Seven Years and Former Asahi Europe Leadership Role
BAT CFO Dragos Constantinescu Takes Office, Returning After Seven Years and Former Asahi Europe Leadership Role
Dragos Constantinescu has officially taken up his role as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director at British American Tobacco (BAT). He previously spent 16 years at BAT across finance and general management roles in Europe before joining Asahi in 2019 and becoming CEO of Asahi Europe & International in 2025. His return comes as BAT continues to advance its “A Better Tomorrow” transformation.
BAT
Sep.01
Reynolds Seeks to Join Altria Lawsuit Challenging FDA PMTA Rule and Calculation of 180-Day Deadline
Reynolds Seeks to Join Altria Lawsuit Challenging FDA PMTA Rule and Calculation of 180-Day Deadline
Three R.J. Reynolds companies are seeking to intervene in a lawsuit filed by Altria subsidiaries Helix Innovations and NJOY challenging the FDA's 2021 PMTA final rule. The companies dispute how the agency uses Acceptance and Filing reviews and completeness determinations to establish when the Tobacco Control Act's 180-day decision period begins. Reynolds has also linked prolonged PMTA reviews to competition from unauthorized vaping products. The FDA, meanwhile, has been accelerating reviews and reducing its backlog.
Sep.14
U.S. Ninth Circuit Upholds FDA Denial of MH Global’s Flavored Vape PMTA Applications
U.S. Ninth Circuit Upholds FDA Denial of MH Global’s Flavored Vape PMTA Applications
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the FDA’s denial of MH Global LLC’s applications to market flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). The court ruled that FDA’s comparative-efficacy framework, which requires applicants to show that flavored products provide greater cessation or switching benefits than tobacco-flavored alternatives, is consistent with the Tobacco Control Act’s “appropriate for the protection of the public health” standard. The court also found that FDA was not required to establish the framework through notice-and-comment rulemaking.
Aug.26
Juul Displays FDA-Authorized JUUL2, Highlights Age Verification at NACS Show 2026
Juul Displays FDA-Authorized JUUL2, Highlights Age Verification at NACS Show 2026
At the 2026 NACS Show in Las Vegas, Juul Labs displayed its JUUL2 e-cigarette system alongside existing products, age-verification messaging and mobile coupons, 2Firsts observed. The JUUL2 device and Virginia Tobacco and Polar Menthol pods received FDA marketing authorization in August 2026. Booth materials highlighted longer battery life, greater e-liquid capacity and connected-device features. A TruAge sign and a mobile coupon presentation also featured at the booth, with weekly offers available to age-verified adult nicotine consumers at participating retailers.
EXPO
Oct.09