Penang mulls vape ban, holds talks with industry groups

BUTTERWORTH: The Penang government will continue holding engagement sessions with stakeholders on the vape industry before considering implementing a ban on it in the state.
State Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said the engagement sessions aim to gather views and suggestions from all parties on the matter.
'Last Thursday, I met with representatives from the Vape Entrepreneurs Group Association, and we listened to the various issues they raised concerning the industry, particularly regarding Act 852 – the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024.
'They also expressed concerns about the impact of the act's implementation on the industry, and based on the feedback received, Act 852 can be considered one of the strictest regulatory frameworks in the country compared to other industries,' he told reporters after attending an Engagement Programme with the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) and Persatuan Mencegah Dadah Malaysia (Pemadam), here today.
Gooi said the state government is also prepared to consider a ban on vape sales if the enforcement of Act 852, which takes effect on Oct 1, does not yield the desired positive outcomes.
He said that a regulatory mechanism for the supply of electronic cigarettes has been introduced through the act, and the strategy to reduce its usage in Penang must be implemented in a comprehensive and planned manner.
Previously, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad stated that state governments have the legal space to implement a ban on the sale of vape products in their respective states.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Focus Malaysia

4 hours ago

• Focus Malaysia

Vape industry hails PMX's call to address drug issue, sale of vape to minors must be curbed

THE local vape industry expresses its full support for the call made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to take immediate action to address the issue of drug abuse and the use of vape products among youths. Industry players agree that drug abuse is indeed a major contributor to various social woes and public health concerns, hence requiring serious attention and comprehensive solutions involving all stakeholders. However, the industry emphasises that registered players under existing vape associations consistently comply with business standards, including refraining from selling illicit substances or marketing to underage buyers. In fact, vape products that are legally sold and registered in the local market do not carry the same risks as narcotics as their contents adhere to guidelines and standards set by the authorities. 'The real issue doesn't stem from legal vape products,' insisted the Malaysia Retail Electronic Cigarette Association (MRECA) president Datuk Adzwan Ab Manas. 'What's truly concerning is the sale of vape products laced with drugs by irresponsible parties which clearly endangers users and tarnishes the reputation of the industry as a whole. Even more troubling is the fact that these irresponsible actors are selling to minors.' Adzwan further stressed that current regulations clearly prohibit the sale of vape products to minors but violations still occur in the black market due to enforcement loopholes. 'We are confident that our members are not violating the law or selling to minors. However, should any of them be found guilty of such misconduct, we fully agree that appropriate punishment should be imposed,' he added. In the same development, the Persatuan Peniaga Vape Melayu Malaysia (PPVM) president Mohd Sabri Ismail highlighted that given business is inherently profit-driven, traders should strive to operate transparently to ensure the longevity and integrity of their enterprises. 'As licensed and registered traders, we certainly don't wish to engage in any activity that could jeopardise our business,' he stressed. 'We believe that those selling dangerous vape products and targeting minors are not part of the legitimate or licensed vape business community.'. In this regard, industry representatives agree that enforcement is the key to ensuring the effectiveness of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852). 'We call for strengthened and comprehensive enforcement—not only against those selling to minors but also against parties distributing vape products mixed with prohibited substances,' urged the Malaysia E-Vaporisers and Tobacco Alternative Association (MEVTA) president Mohamad Neezam Talib. – June 23, 2025

Borneo Post

12 hours ago

• Borneo Post

Minister unhappy over Sarawak posting highest number of adolescent vape users

Fatimah (fifth left) joins other officials involved in the state-level National Anti-Drugs Day 2025 programme in a group photo. KUCHING (June 23): Sarawak has the highest vape users among youngsters aged 13 to 17 years in Malaysia, based on the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) undertaken in 2022, which recorded prevalence rate of 20.3 per cent, or 39,608 individuals. To Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, this is not something to be proud of. 'This is not good. We're on top of the list, but not for a good reason. 'The prevalence rate of vape use among Sarawakianz aged 15 years and above has also shown an increase. The NHMS report showed an increase in the prevalence rate of vape use from 4.5 per cent in 2019 to 7.3 per cent in 2023,' she said at the state-level 'National Anti-Drugs Day 2025' at Detar Putra of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) on Saturday evening. In this regard, she said her ministry was ready to bring this issue up at the Sarawak Cabinet meeting in seeking direction on the next step of action. She also pointed out that there had been cases of illegal substance being added to vapes, with police statistics in 2023 reporting nine cases of illegal vape substances in Sarawak. 'We must do something to avoid this issue from becoming out of hand,' she stressed. On another matter, Fatimah said Sarawak recorded a total of 4,602 arrests involving various drug-related offences from January to April this year. 'What is worrying is the increase in relapse cases among drug addicts in Sarawak, where the number of recorded cases jumped by 120 per cent from 319 cases (last year) to 703 cases.' She added out of the 4,602 arrests, 2,804 involved youths – up from 1,392 youths' arrests recorded last year. 'This group (youths) are of the future of the state and the country. 'What's clear now is that prevention efforts must start earlier, at the school level with strong support from the teachers and parents,' she pointed out. The state minister also called upon youths to never experiment with illegal drugs, as getting over the addiction and rehabilitation process would be difficult for them. fatimah abdullah National Health and Morbidity Survey substance abuse vape

The Sun

2 days ago

• The Sun

Penang mulls vape ban, holds talks with industry groups

BUTTERWORTH: The Penang government will continue holding engagement sessions with stakeholders on the vape industry before considering implementing a ban on it in the state. State Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said the engagement sessions aim to gather views and suggestions from all parties on the matter. 'Last Thursday, I met with representatives from the Vape Entrepreneurs Group Association, and we listened to the various issues they raised concerning the industry, particularly regarding Act 852 – the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024. 'They also expressed concerns about the impact of the act's implementation on the industry, and based on the feedback received, Act 852 can be considered one of the strictest regulatory frameworks in the country compared to other industries,' he told reporters after attending an Engagement Programme with the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) and Persatuan Mencegah Dadah Malaysia (Pemadam), here today. Gooi said the state government is also prepared to consider a ban on vape sales if the enforcement of Act 852, which takes effect on Oct 1, does not yield the desired positive outcomes. He said that a regulatory mechanism for the supply of electronic cigarettes has been introduced through the act, and the strategy to reduce its usage in Penang must be implemented in a comprehensive and planned manner. Previously, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad stated that state governments have the legal space to implement a ban on the sale of vape products in their respective states.