It is time for Malaysia to implement a ban on vapes, aligning its policies with neighboring countries like Singapore, Thailand, and Brunei, according to anti-tobacco activist Muhammad Sha'ani Abdullah. The Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC) secretary-general argued that from both an economic and public health standpoint, the costs associated with vaping far outweigh any short-term gains from sales.
"The healthcare costs, productivity losses and risks to non-users via second-hand aerosol exposure far outweigh any perceived short-term gains," he stated. Muhammad Sha’ani described youth vaping as an escalating epidemic, citing police warnings and reports of sudden deaths involving vape users that demand urgent government attention. "The professional public health position remains consistent—vapes should be banned," he added.
This call comes amidst some policy uncertainty, as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently announced plans to expand pro-health taxes to include vapes, raising concerns among activists that a full ban may not be pursued.
- News source: Malaysia must ban vapes, says anti-tobacco activist
