KUALA LUMPUR — The Health Ministry’s push to ban vape products while simultaneously approving them for market registration sends a contradictory and confusing signal to both the public and industry players, says Malaysian Organisation of Vape Entity (MOVE) president Samsul Kamal Ariffin.
Speaking on the Scoop Insight podcast, Samsul said the government cannot claim to be championing harm reduction and regulatory control while considering policy shifts that could dismantle the country’s legal vape ecosystem.
“You cannot say you’re regulating the industry through NPRA (National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency) registration, and then turn around and say you want to ban it. What are we doing here then?” he said.
He was referring to recent remarks by the Health Ministry indicating that the government may ban vape products containing liquid nicotine, particularly in response to growing concerns about youth nicotine use.
In July, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the Cabinet is studying such a proposal as part of wider efforts to address public health risks.
The proposal comes just months after the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) came into force in October last year, establishing a legal framework for regulating all smoking-related products, including e-cigarettes.
The law introduced restrictions on retail displays, online sales, vending machines and product packaging, with further phases of implementation set for 2025.
At the same time, the government continues to expand its collection of health-related taxes on vape products.
As part of the 13th Malaysia Plan last week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the extension of “pro-health” taxes to include tobacco, alcohol and vape products, framing the move as a strategy to curb non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by discouraging harmful consumption.
Dubbed a “cancer tax” by some consumer groups, the policy is expected to drive up prices and promote healthier lifestyles.
This follows the excise tax of RM1.20 per millilitre imposed on vape liquids beginning January 1 2024. The government projects RM600 million in revenue from the tax this year, on top of RM100 million collected in vape-related excise duties in 2023.
But for industry players like MOVE, the government’s dual-track approach—pursuing regulation and revenue while entertaining prohibition—raises serious concerns.
“It’s contradictory. Why approve products, charge registration fees, impose health taxes, and then talk about banning everything?” Samsul said.
“To the public, this looks like hypocrisy. You’re taxing us and approving products, but also saying they should be banned? That doesn’t work.”
He warned that inconsistent policy signals undermine confidence among consumers and manufacturers, and threaten the credibility of the government’s regulatory approach.
“The moment a student is caught vaping, everyone calls for a total ban. But no one talks about enforcement gaps or failed parental guidance,” he added. “You don’t solve a drug problem by banning paracetamol.”
While MOVE supports stronger enforcement, tighter sales restrictions and more education for parents, Samsul stressed that coherent and rational policymaking is essential.
“If we want to treat vape like tobacco, then regulate it like tobacco,” he said. “But don’t create a system where we follow all the rules—only to be shut down for doing exactly what the government told us to do.” — August 4, 2025
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