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
Borneo Post
3 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
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Malay Mail
Fahmi says MCMC to monitor online vape sales on Facebook, WhatsApp amid rising health concerns
PUTRAJAYA, June 5 — The Communications Ministry, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), will monitor online sales of vape and e-cigarette products following increased bans on vape use in several states and concerns over the presence of synthetic substances in these products. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the issue was raised during today's Cabinet meeting and is being reviewed by the Health Ministry (MoH). 'At the same time, I will direct MCMC to examine the online sale of such products. We have found that these sales are largely conducted on platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp. 'Any enforcement action will certainly involve the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN),' he told a weekly press conference here today. Fahmi said while vape-related issues fall under the Health Ministry's jurisdiction, the Communications Ministry will monitor the use of social media as a sales platform, particularly for e-cigarette products. 'Insya-Allah, MCMC will prepare a report on this matter, and the Communications Ministry will present it to the Cabinet for further discussion,' he said. He also reaffirmed the Communications Ministry's commitment to working closely with MoH and KPDN to ensure a safer internet environment, particularly for children and families, by addressing issues such as vape and e-cigarette advertisements. — Bernama
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
Health Ministry urges sugary drink tax as consumption soars in Vietnam
HANOI: The Ministry of Health (MoH) has raised concerns over the sharp rise in sugary drink consumption in Vietnam, warning that failure to impose a special consumption tax could come at the cost of public health. In 2023, the average Vietnamese consumed around 66 litres of sugary beverages, equivalent to 18g of sugar per day, or 36 per cent of the World Health Organization (WHO)'s maximum recommended intake for adults. Between 2009 and 2023, sugary drink consumption quadrupled, nearly doubling in the past decade alone. Per capita consumption surged by 350 per cent, from 18.5 to 66.5 litres per year. A 2019 national survey found that nearly 34 per cent of students aged 13–17 drank carbonated beverages at least once a day. The WHO estimates that without stronger controls, sugary drink consumption in Việt Nam could rise by an average of 6.4 per cent annually through 2028, fuelling higher rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. The MoH says that taxing sugary beverages is one of the most effective and low-cost interventions to reduce sugar consumption and prevent non-communicable diseases. The WHO recommends a tax that raises retail prices by at least 20 per cent. According to research by the Hanoi University of Public Health, such a tax in Việt Nam could reduce rates of people who are overweight or obese by 2.1 per cent and 1.5 per cent respectively, prevent 80,000 diabetes cases and save nearly VNĐ800 billion (US$30.77 million) in healthcare costs. At a National Assembly session debating amendments to the Law on Special Consumption Tax, Finance Minister Nguyen Van Thang said WHO data showed Vietnam was among the countries with the fastest-growing sugary drink consumption. 'Most of the sugar we consume comes from these beverages, driving obesity. WHO recommends a minimum 20 per cent tax. Frankly, we should have acted sooner,' he said. Delegate Le Hoang Anh from Gia Lai Province rejected the proposed 8–10 per cent tax from 2027 as too slow and too weak, arguing it fails to align with the national priority of putting health first. He pointed to countries like Thailand, which introduced a sugary drink tax in 2017, and the Philippines and Malaysia, which now collect billions of dollars annually from similar levies. 'If we don't act today, we will pay tomorrow, in lives lost, higher medical costs and reduced productivity,' he warned. Anh recommended adopting a 10 per cent tax starting in 2026, rising to 20 per cent by 2030, along with an absolute tax based on sugar content, like Thailand's. At least 108 countries have already imposed a special consumption tax on sugary drinks, including six in South-East Asia: Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia and Laos. The MoH says this demonstrates that such a tax is feasible and necessary for developing countries like Vietnam. Since 2017, Thailand has imposed a tiered excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages based on their sugar content, rather than a flat percentage. The higher the sugar content, the higher the tax, reaching up to 5 baht ($0.15) per litre for drinks with more than 14 grammes of sugar per 100ml. On top of this, a 14 per cent value-added tax is also applied to the ex-factory price. The tax increases retail prices by approximately 11 to 20 per cent, encouraging manufacturers to reduce sugar content and helping curb sugar-related health risks. In the Philippines, the excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages has been in effect since 2018. It imposes a specific excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, charging 6 pesos ($0.10) per litre for drinks sweetened with sugar or non-caloric sweeteners and 12 pesos per litre for those containing high-fructose corn syrup. This tax has effectively raised retail prices by about 16 to 20 per cent, aiming to curb consumption and tackle health issues like obesity and diabetes. — Vietnam News/ANN
