Malaysia moves towards greater control over vaping, electronic cigarettes

Kuching: Malaysia is working on introducing a new bill on the use of tobacco, vape, electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) and shisha that will be debated at to the parliament by March 2020

Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the ministry is now in final phase of study to formulate the bill, described as more comprehensive to handle various current issues.

“We are almost at the end of discussion with the Attorney-General and is very hopeful of tabling it in Parliament in the first quarter before March next year,” he told reporters after attending the ‘Stop The Stigma’ run organised by Sarawak General Hospital.

The act will encompass not only tobacco, but also several other issues related to nicotine found in vape or e-cigarette, national news agency BERNAMA reported.

Earlier Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye headed the special committee to look into vaping and shisha that involved the Domestic Trade and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNHEP), Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and Health Ministry pharmacy on tobacco products containing nicotine.

Dzulkefly said it was held to raise the awareness of the people on the importance of mental health as well as mental health problems that are on the rise.

“In Malaysia, the trend of suicide among teenagers has shown an increase in the past few years. A National Health and Morbidity Survey in 2017 found the prevalence of committing suicide among teenagers aged between 13 and 17 was 10 per cent compared to 7.9 per cent in 2012,” he said, quoted by BERNAMA.

The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy, a think tank, has urged Putrajaya to impose a total ban on e-cigarettes from the Malaysian market.

The government should adopt strong regulations similar to those enforced for traditional cigarettes when it comes to vaping, it said.