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THE Negeri Sembilan government is considering banning the sale of electronic cigarettes and vape products, following the lead of several other Malaysian states.
The proposal will be brought before the State Executive Council (MMKN) for further deliberation, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said on Wednesday.
“The ban is a good proposal and will be considered if vaping is found to pose serious health risks,” Aminuddin told reporters after chairing the state executive council meeting.
He added that the state government would seek recommendations from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and consult current fatwas before reaching a decision. In the interim, local authorities have been instructed to enhance enforcement against illegal vape sales, particularly of mushroom-flavoured variants, which have raised public concern.
Immediate measures include reviewing vape-related business licences issued by local councils.
“We’ve been informed that such licences are often registered under electrical businesses. If that’s the case, we will freeze new applications,” said Aminuddin.
He also acknowledged challenges in enforcement, pointing out that restricting sales in physical shops may simply drive consumers to purchase vape products online or through courier services.
“Banning shop sales might just push the market underground. People are smart – if it’s banned in-store, they’ll buy it online instead. So we need to consider the overall effectiveness before implementing any state-level ban,” he said.
Johor, Terengganu and Perlis have already implemented bans on vape sales, while other states like Penang are adopting a wait-and-see approach pending federal developments.
Penang to Assess Federal Law Impact Before Acting
Meanwhile, Penang may implement a total ban on vape sales if full enforcement of the federal Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) proves ineffective, said State Health, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen.
“The act will come into full force on 1 October this year, so we will monitor its impact first,” he told the Penang State Legislative Assembly during Wednesday’s sitting.
Gooi said Act 852 is currently in the registration phase and governs the supply, sale, and labelling of tobacco and vape products. It includes a ban on sales to minors and has been gradually rolled out since October 2023.
The state fully supports restricting vape sales to underage individuals and discourages smoking and vaping in general, he added.
“The state government’s stance aligns with efforts to safeguard public health. We are also working to prevent black market activity and smuggling that may arise if restrictions are not well enforced,” he said.
The Ministry of Health announced that Act 852 will be enforced from 1 October 2024. It covers comprehensive regulation of all smoking products, including electronic cigarettes, and bans smoking in designated public areas.
Originally slated for enforcement in June, the law was postponed to August before being pushed to October. It was gazetted in February 2024 but has yet to be fully implemented. - May 21, 2025
