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THE government is under increasing pressure to make a firm decision on the status of electronic cigarettes, or vape, as public health advocates warn that continued delays could result in irreversible harm to future generations.
Despite ongoing debates, enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) remains partial, while vape products are still openly sold — even to schoolchildren — and often at a fraction of the cost of traditional cigarettes.
Criticising the prolonged indecision that has left the public in a regulatory limbo, many ask: “For how long must this issue remain unresolved?”
The Ministry of Health, under Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, has made sustained efforts to curb the spread of vaping, taking full responsibility for the matter. The Minister confirmed that the government is “moving towards a full ban on vape” and noted that a special committee had convened on 22 July to assess the pros and cons of such a move.
In a commendable show of local leadership, six states — Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis, Kedah and Pahang — have already taken independent action by instructing local authorities to stop issuing business licences for vape-related premises. These measures have been praised as vital steps to protect public health.
Nonetheless, the public continues to wait as further studies and discussions unfold, even as vape products — described as “candy-like” in their appeal — increasingly lure children and adolescents into addiction.
“Do we need to wait for rising death tolls or a generation enslaved to nicotine before we take action?” the commentary challenges.
The time has come, it argues, for the government to use all legal instruments at its disposal — including Act 852 — to implement a comprehensive ban before the problem becomes entrenched.
Once significant harm has taken root, no health policy will be able to reverse the damage already done.
“Act firmly and swiftly,” the piece concludes, expressing confidence that such a move would earn widespread public support in the interest of national well-being. - July 31, 2025
