Negeri Sembilan mulls ban on vape sales
SEREMBAN: Negeri Sembilan is considering a ban on the sale of vape products and electronic cigarettes in the state.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said the decision considers the adverse effects of its usage on public health and well-being, especially among the youth.
'The Ministry of Health (MOH) has proposed an outright ban, which may be a beneficial suggestion. We might bring the matter to the State Executive Council Meeting for further discussion and action.
'I also urge for strict enforcement against the sale of 'magic mushroom' vape products, that's the most pressing issue to be addressed. Nowadays, there are all sorts of products, electronic cigarettes and so on, (all of which, whether) modern or not, have harmful effects,' he told reporters after chairing the meeting here today.
Aminuddin urged local authorities (PBT) not to approve vape sales licences and hoped these PBTs would coordinate better regarding signboards advertising such products.
He added that relevant parties must also identify the root causes and take appropriate actions to reduce vaping among students.
It was reported that several states, including Terengganu and Perlis, had banned the sale of electronic cigarettes or vape products.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
9 hours ago
- Malay Mail
First vape, next cake? The slippery slope of selective bans — Sim Tian Hong
JUNE 10 — The recent calls for a nationwide vape ban have been hogging the headlines. Just recently, Segamat MP R. Yuneswaran urged the Federal government to impose a blanket ban, citing rising healthcare costs and increasing youth vaping rates. Meanwhile, states such as Selangor, Kelantan, Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu have already moved ahead with bans of their own or are debating similar measures. These moves are driven by understandable public health concerns. No one is questioning the motivations behind such calls. After all, nothing is more important than public health. However, are we approaching this issue in a consistent and coherent way? If we are banning vape to protect public health, why are cigarettes — a product known to cause cancer, heart disease, and countless other illnesses — still legally sold and taxed? According to the Ministry of Health, tobacco use remains one of the most preventable causes of death in Malaysia. Yet, while vape is being banned or restricted in piecemeal fashion, cigarettes remain a fixture in convenience stores nationwide. The recent calls for a nationwide vape ban have been hogging the headlines. — Picture by Raymond Manuel This inconsistency becomes even more troubling when one considers the fragmented nature of the current policy response. Some states are imposing their own bans, others are not. The Federal government has yet to adopt a clear, unified stance. The result is a patchwork of differing rules across the country. This is bound to create confusion for the public, enforcement challenges for authorities, and opportunities for an illicit market to flourish. There is also the risk of setting a questionable policy precedent. If the principle is that we should ban products that can harm public health, where do we draw the line? Should we also move to ban junk food, sugary drinks, or alcohol, all of which contribute to non-communicable diseases and healthcare costs? I am not suggesting that we ignore the risks associated with vaping. But we should be wary of making selective, reactive policy decisions that are not grounded in a consistent framework. Rather than imposing outright bans in an uneven and fragmented way, there is a case for a more balanced and coherent approach. Stronger public education campaigns, tighter regulation of marketing and sales (especially to minors), and consistent enforcement across states may ultimately prove more effective than prohibition alone. Above all, public health policy should be seen as fair, rational, and consistent. A strategy that appears to single out certain products while ignoring others with well-documented harms, risks undermining public trust. It may also distract from the broader effort to build a healthier society. Public health must always come first. But in pursuing that goal, we should avoid the temptation to adopt inconsistent or populist measures that may generate headlines, but not necessarily better outcomes. * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Focus Malaysia
13 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
'Short-sighted and ineffective: Vape bans are not the answer'
WE ARE witnessing a growing wave of state-led attempts to ban vape products with Opposition-led Perlis, Terengganu, and Kedah having announced prohibition of sales between August and December 2025 while Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan are reportedly considering a similar move. Publicly, political leaders and MPs are now echoing calls for a nationwide ban, citing concerns over drug-laced vape products and growing concern over youth vaping. Let us be clear: these concerns are real but the proposed solutions are dangerously flawed. The reason we are seeing issues like underage use and contaminated products is not because of the legal vape industry. It is because irresponsible, illegal retailers and criminal syndicates continue to operate without fear of consequences. These bad actors have no regard for regulations, age restrictions or product safety. They are the ones supplying unregistered products, selling to minors and introducing dangerous substances into the supply chain. Banning vape will not stop these criminals. It will only penalise legitimate and regulated businesses while empowering the black market. Flourishing black market As it is, political leaders who advocate vape ban are reacting to the harm caused by illegal and unregulated players. But instead of focusing their efforts on enforcement to eliminate these elements, they propose a blanket ban that would wipe out responsible retailers, many of whom are registered and oin compliance with all current regulations. If we take the easy way out and ban vape outright, we risk creating an entirely unregulated underground market. Everything will be black market. No age checks, no quality control, no accountability. This is the worst possible outcome for public health. We must remember that the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) has now been introduced. This is the very tool meant to bring vape into a regulated space, to ensure product safety, protect youth and allow only legal players to operate. Why are we not focusing our energy on implementing this law effectively with robust enforcement to weed out the bad actors? Irresponsible to ban vape According to Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) Malaysia 2023 survey by the Institute for Public Health under the Health Ministry (MOH), the majority of vape users are aged 15 to 24 years-old. But these numbers did not emerge under a regulated environment. They grew due the absence of a clear regulatory framework. This proves that prohibition does not work. What works is regulations, oversight and the political will to enforce the law. In this regard, MRECA (the Malaysia Retail Electronic Cigarette Association) fully supports regulations. We support clear rules that keep products out of the hands of minors and ensure safety for adult consumers. But we cannot support a system where the actions of criminal syndicates are used to justify blanket bans that harm legitimate businesses. With Act 852 already in place, the focus must be on moving forward: implementing it with urgency, investing in enforcement and strengthening the regulatory framework so that only responsible, compliant players remain in the market. Banning regulated products is not a solution but an abdication of responsibility that hands the market over to criminals. If we want to protect public health and consumer safety, we must stay the course, enforce the law decisively and commit to building a legal, transparent vape industry that operates within clear and accountable boundaries. – June 10, 2025 Datuk Adzwan Abdul Manas is the Malaysia Retail Electronic Cigarette Association (MRECA) president. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- Borneo Post
SUPP Lambir to host health awareness carnival on June 15
SUPP Lambir organising committee members pose for a photo call, taken after a meeting session prior to the carnival. MIRI (June 7): The Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) Lambir branch will host a health check awareness carnival on Sunday, June 15, at its premises located at Lot 563, Block 5, Lambir Land District, Jalan Tukau, from 8.30am to 1pm. Deputy Minister of Health Malaysia, Dato Lukanisman Awang Sauni, is expected to officiate the event, which aims to raise public awareness on the importance of regular health screenings and provide health services to residents in Bakam, Tukau, and surrounding areas. The initiative is jointly supported by both private and public agencies, including the National Population and Family Development Board Malaysia (LPPKN) through Klinik Nur Sejahtera, the Ministry of Health's Department of Dentistry, International Optical Co., Best Hearing Aid Centre Miri, and Amcal Pharmacy Sdn Bhd. LPPKN will provide free mammogram screenings and free hysterectomised cancer-specific genotype testing, in addition to basic health tests such as blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol, and body mass index (BMI) at RM10; and Pap smear tests at RM45. 'Dental check-ups will be conducted by the Ministry of Health's Department of Dentistry, while International Optical Co. and Best Hearing Aid Centre will offer free visual examinations and hearing tests respectively,' said the organising committee in a statement. Amcal Pharmacy will also conduct free quantum resonance magnetic analytic for interested participants, it added. IN addition to health services, the carnival will feature a children's colouring contest, offering families a fun and educational experience. The contest will be divided into three categories – Kindergartens, Primary 1 to 3, and Primary 4 to 6, with door gifts for all participants. Due to limited participation slots, those interested in registering for the colouring contest are encouraged to contact Lim Lay Cheng on 016-872 5634 or Lee Pei Pei on 012-807 5843. Other attractions include a lucky draw, family photo booth sessions, singing and dancing activities, and public service information booths. These booths will offer details and assistance on programmes such as the Kenyalang Gold Card, Senior Citizen Health Benefits, PeKa B40, and Sarawak Basic Needs Assistance (SKAS). health check awareness carnival Lukanisman Awang Sauni SUPP Lambir
