Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan May Ban E-Cigarettes Pending State Council Review

Key Points:

1.The Negeri Sembilan state government in Malaysia is considering implementing a statewide ban on the sale of e-cigarettes to protect public health.

2.According to a report from the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), the use of e-cigarettes has caused multiple cases of lung damage in Malaysia, with treatment costs reaching six figures for each case.

3.The MMA is calling on the federal government to ban e-cigarette sales nationwide, arguing that health should take precedence over economic interests.

4.The state government is reviewing current sales permits and planning to prohibit online e-cigarette sales to ensure the ban is effective.

According to a report by The Star on May 21, 2023, the Selangor state government in Malaysia will discuss whether to ban the sale of e-cigarettes and e-cigarette products across the state to protect public health.

The Minister of Health of Negeri Sembilan, Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, stated that the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) had previously declared that Malaysia has seen cases of lung injuries related to the use of e-cigarettes and e-cigarette products, with treatment costs reaching six figures. Aminuddin expressed that this was a good suggestion and that he will soon bring it up for discussion at the state executive council meeting.

Last week, MMA urged the federal government to implement a national ban on the sale of e-cigarettes, emphasizing that public health should take priority over profits, and warning that the use of these products could jeopardize the well-being of future generations.

The medical association also cited data from the Ministry of Health, which reported a total of 41 cases of e-cigarette-related lung injuries (Evali) from 2019 to last year, with the government spending up to 150,000 Malaysian Ringgit on treatment for each patient. The National Poison Center also recorded 111 incidents related to e-cigarette exposure from 2015 to 2023.

When asked about whether the state government will temporarily suspend issuing new e-cigarette sales permits, Aminuddin replied that there are currently no specific sales permits for these products, with local councils usually issuing general sales permits for electrical appliances, equipment, or small tools. He stated that he will be requesting the state secretary to negotiate with local councils to study feasible measures.

Aminuddin himself also opposes the sale of these harmful health products, he added that if the authorities ban the sale of these products, they must also ensure that they are not being sold online. He pointed out that if stores are closed but delivery companies continue to deliver products to homes, the entire ban will be ineffective.

In 2016, the state government banned Muslims from using e-cigarettes in accordance with the decision of the National Religious Affairs Council. However, considering the interests of non-Muslim consumers, the sale of e-cigarette products was allowed.

According to data, Negeri Sembilan is located on the west coast of the Malaysian peninsula. It shares borders with Selangor to the north, Pahang to the east, and Melaka and Johor to the south. Previously, several states in Malaysia had already announced a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes within their territories.