The Malaysian government believes that the time has not yet come to implement a complete ban on electronic cigarettes or vapes, as some developed countries have already done, according to a report by Utusan Malaysia on November 19th.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad stated that the government has no objection if individual states wish to ban the sale of such products.
"If you ask me, I would indeed like to see vapes banned, but perhaps we can follow Johor's approach, where vapes are not allowed to be sold in stores," he said.
Yesterday, the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah, in a statement in Kuantan, recommended a total ban on electronic cigarette products, citing them as a cause of drug addiction.
Commenting further, Dzulkefly expressed his gratitude for the Sultan's suggestion but said the government has its own step-by-step approach, including through advocacy methods.
"If we look at Act 852, which came into effect on October 1, Malaysia is indeed heading in that direction, but the government's stance is not to impose an immediate ban," he said.
He referred to the Tobacco Control for Public Health Act 2024, which was gazetted on February 1, despite some parties calling for the government to reverse its decision.
Dzulkefly suggested that Pahang could follow Johor's example. In 2016, Johor became the first state to ban the sale of vapes in all commercial premises and stopped issuing operating licenses for stores selling vape products.
He added that other states are free to adopt Johor's approach if they wish to curb the issue of vape addiction.
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
