Malaysian state of Selangor proposes sharing e-cigarette tax revenue with federal government for local enforcement agencies

Key points

• Selangor state in Malaysia has proposed to the federal government to share a portion of the e-cigarette tax revenue for local law enforcement purposes.
• Proposal to establish a mechanism for collaboration between the federal and state governments to strengthen e-cigarette regulation.
• Tax revenue can be used for education, community surveillance, and nicotine addiction treatment programs.
• At the time of the recommendation, the Malaysian Ministry of Health is planning to increase the tax on e-cigarette liquids by ten times.

In a report by AsiaOne on October 13, 2025, the government of Selangor in Malaysia has proposed allocating a portion of the sales tax revenue from e-cigarettes and electronic vapor products to support grassroots efforts in smoking control and enforcement.

Jamaliah Jamaluddin, the chairperson of the Selangor State Public Health and Environment Committee, has suggested that the state health department could consider establishing a mechanism for collaboration between the federal and state governments to strengthen e-cigarette regulation. She pointed out that ensuring taxes are used to address the negative effects of e-cigarettes and supporting local law enforcement actions is of utmost importance.

Jamaluddin added that this tax revenue can also be used to support educational institutions, communities, and local authorities, to monitor and prevent the sale of e-cigarettes in restricted areas, and to provide rehabilitation treatment for nicotine addicts.

She emphasized that without proper resource allocation, larger states like Selangor will struggle to fully implement relevant law enforcement measures.

At the time of this proposal, the Malaysian Ministry of Health is planning to increase the tax on e-cigarette liquid by tenfold, from 0.4 Malaysian Ringgit (approximately 0.09 US dollars) per milliliter to 4 Malaysian Ringgit (approximately 0.9 US dollars). Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni stated that the proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Finance with the aim of aligning the tax on e-cigarettes with the tax standards for traditional tobacco products.

Federal Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad previously stated that this move is aimed at reducing the consumption and sale of e-cigarettes in preparation for a nationwide ban scheduled to be implemented by mid-2026.

Cover image source: AsiaOne