Move to ban vape causes confusion
Published on: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Published on: Tue, May 13, 2025
By: Noor Zafira Zayn Text Size: Shahbudeen highlighted that the real issue the Government needs to address is the misuse of vape products, particularly the smuggling of illegal substances such as 'Vape Magic Mushroom' into Malaysia. Kota Kinabalu: The move by several state governments to impose a total ban on vape and electronic cigarettes has caused confusion among industry players and consumers alike. Concerns that such action diverts attention from systemic weaknesses and could instead fuel the growth of the black market for vape products. Nanostix Chief Executive Officer Shahbudeen Jalil said state-level bans should be thoroughly reviewed to prevent further confusion. 'The decisions made by some state governments have created uncertainty not only among industry players but also consumers in the country. On one hand, the Federal Government is calling for better regulation, while on the other, total bans are being enforced at the state level. 'This raises questions as it appears that the state governments are disregarding the legal frameworks and policies already established by the Federal Government,' he said in a statement. Shahbudeen highlighted that the real issue the Government needs to address is the misuse of vape products, particularly the smuggling of illegal substances such as 'Vape Magic Mushroom' into Malaysia. He pointed out that such illicit vape products are being openly sold on social media by irresponsible parties and are not associated with licensed local companies. 'Shifting the focus onto a law-abiding industry only distracts from the real flaws — not just in border enforcement but also at the local authority level. 'The vape industry exists not merely as a smoking alternative but has also contributed to the national economy and provided thousands of job opportunities. 'Banning vape sales will only open the floodgates for uncontrolled black market activities and smuggling, posing a far greater risk to society,' he added. Shahbudeen also urged the authorities to strengthen enforcement of existing laws and to tighten monitoring against the smuggling of harmful substances. 'It's important that control over raw materials is prioritised for local products to ensure user safety and quality. There should also be transparent engagement with the industry before any major decisions are made, as these could significantly affect the local economic ecosystem. 'Moreover, efforts must be made to raise awareness among consumers about the difference between legal vape products approved by the Customs and the Ministry of Health (MOH) and those brought in illegally,' he said. He further emphasised that the true focus should be on tackling smuggling and drug abuse, not punishing compliant local industries. 'This is the real root of the problem, smuggling and drug misuse, not the legitimate vape industry. 'We believe the future of this industry depends on a balance between effective regulation and support for local players, and we remain committed to collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure Malaysia's vape sector develops in a healthy, safe and responsible manner. 'Another proposal for authorities to consider is to restrict or entirely ban the import of vape liquids from abroad as a stricter control measure. 'This is important to ensure that only products meeting safety and quality standards reach local consumers and to reduce the risk of illegal or harmful substances entering the market,' he said. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
8 minutes ago
- The Star
Consumer group urges govt to defer SST expansion amid economic pressures
KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Government has been urged to postpone the planned expansion of the sales and services tax (SST) so as not to worsen the situation of rising living costs. National Consumer Foundation Malaysia Sabah chapter president David Chan said that in a climate of persistent economic strain, the cost of daily necessities like food and essential services continues to climb. ALSO READ: Expanded SST comes into effect July 1 'Any expansion of SST will inevitably raise business operating expenses, with these additional costs passed on to consumers," he said in a statement on Friday (June 13). "This will intensify the financial pressures already facing households, particularly when wages remain stagnant and job insecurity is growing." Chan added that the recent announcement by PETRONAS to cut 5,000 jobs also reflects the severity of the current landscape. 'Global market instability, driven by ongoing trade tensions and higher import tariffs, especially from the United States, is already impacting Malaysia's economy, from manufacturing to logistics and beyond. ALSO READ: 'Put revised SST on hold' 'At a time when many Malaysians are struggling with inflation and diminished purchasing power, we call on the government to defer any SST expansion until economic conditions improve and global uncertainties stabilise,' he said. Instead, he suggested that the government prioritise domestic economic recovery, safeguard employment, and ensure access to affordable goods and services. 'Any future tax policy changes must be informed by comprehensive impact assessments and accompanied by targeted mitigation strategies to shield low- and middle-income groups,' he said. ALSO READ: Expanded SST impacts essential goods, says Dr Wee He added that the NGO also urged policymakers not to impose additional burdens on the rakyat in the name of fiscal reform. 'Recovery efforts must be people-centric, and taxation policies must reflect the lived realities of consumers and businesses alike,' he said. Under the expanded SST set to take effect on July 1, sales tax is levied on goods manufactured locally and on imported goods. Agricultural produce grown in Malaysia is not subject to sales tax.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Proposal to merge two waste-to-energy plants in Selangor
The Selangor government is studying a proposal to combine two planned waste-to-energy (WTE) plant projects in Jeram and Rawang. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the state is currently in talks to explore the possibility of combining both proposed WTE projects. The move is being considered to streamline efforts and potentially reduce public concerns surrounding the development of two separate projects in close proximity. 'What people are protesting isn't necessarily the technology or the project itself, but the fact that both are happening simultaneously,' he said after pre-launching the Selangor Techsphere Summit 2025 at a hotel in Bangi. Amirudin explained that one of the initiatives involves the Federal Government (Rawang) and while the other is a state-led effort (in Jeram) He stressed that while the term 'incinerator' is being widely used, the project is more accurately described as a waste-to-energy facility. 'Yesterday (June 12), stakeholders visited the WTE facility in Jeram, which is expected to be operational by the end of this year or early next year." Once completed, the WTE will be able to process up to 3,500 tonnes of waste daily while Selangor generates 7,000 tonnes daily. 'That's not even half of our daily waste. That's why we're also looking at new sites like Tanjung Dua Belas,' he said. According to Amirudin, the WTE facility plans are still at an early stage and have not yet reached the planning permission phase. 'It is still in the Environmental Impact Assesment (EIA) process, which typically takes at least one to two years. 'We fully understand the objections. In fact, we are considering a possible merger between the Rawang and Jeram WTE projects. 'If they can be combined, it would be very good although the funding and project hosts are different,' he said.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Pakistan condemns Israeli air strikes on neighbour iran
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, the only Islamic country with nuclear weapons, 'strongly condemned' on Friday a wave of Israeli strikes on its neighbour Iran. The strikes, which left key military commanders and nuclear scientists dead, stoked fears of a full-blown war in the region and jeopardised US-Iran nuclear talks set for Sunday in Oman. 'Strongly condemn unjustified Israeli attacks on Islamic republic of Iran,' Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar wrote on X. He said Pakistan, which does not recognise Israel, 'stands in solidarity with the Government & the people of Iran'. The foreign ministry later warned the Israeli strikes were 'a serious threat to the peace, security, and stability of the entire region and beyond'. Iran and Pakistan frequently accuse each other of allowing militants to operate from their territory to carry out cross-border attacks. Both countries have conducted deadly strikes inside each other's territory in the border region, which is regularly shaken by violent attacks by Islamist or separatist groups.
