Malaysia's Kelantan State Has Banned E-Cigarettes for a Decade, but Illegal Sales Persist

Key points:

1.Early control started early: The government of the Malaysian state of Kelantan began promoting the health risks of e-cigarettes in 2012 and implemented a two-year policy transition period in 2013, ultimately banning the sale of e-cigarettes in 2015.

2.For ten years, Kelantan has not issued any licenses for the sale of e-cigarettes, leading to a systemic ban in place until 2025.

3.Strict law enforcement mechanism: In 2024, 40 law enforcement actions were carried out, resulting in the closure of 67 shops illegally selling e-cigarettes. As of 2025, 16 shops have been closed so far.

4.Social concern is increasing: The public and non-governmental organizations express strong concern over the issue of youth e-cigarette abuse, calling on other states to emulate the policies of Kelantan and implement the national "2024 Public Health Tobacco Control Act".

According to a report by Harakahdaily on May 14, the state government of Kelantan, Malaysia, started a campaign highlighting the health risks of e-cigarettes in 2012 and officially banned the sale of e-cigarettes in 2015. According to Hilmi Abdullah, the chairman of the state's Local Government, Housing, Health and Environment Committee, the government provided a two-year "grace period" in 2013 before implementing the ban for businesses to adjust and for the public to transition.

Since the ban was implemented, Kelantan has not approved any e-cigarette related sales or business licenses for 10 consecutive years. Hilmi stated that this policy is based on public health considerations, as the ingredients in e-cigarettes are seen as substances that pose significant health risks to users.

Despite the clear prohibition in the law, Shermy stated that there are still businesses illegally selling e-cigarette products through covert means, including borrowing other business fronts or using online platforms for sales. In response to this, the state government, in conjunction with customs, the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), and the Ministry of Health, have launched comprehensive enforcement actions.

In 2024, a total of 40 law enforcement actions were carried out throughout the year, resulting in the closure of 67 establishments engaged in illegal activities, some of which were repeat offenders. Since the beginning of 2025, 10 actions have already been completed, resulting in the closure of 16 shops.

Hill emphasized that with the full implementation of the "2024 Public Health Tobacco Control Act" in October this year, he expects the law to give law enforcement agencies greater authority and further tighten regulatory efforts.

In addition, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) criticized states that have not yet implemented similar bans and openly called on the government to take faster action.