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New Straits Times
25-07-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Pharmacists' group declares war on tobacco, vape products
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) has issued a strong declaration against the use of tobacco and vape products, reaffirming its commitment to a smoke-free and vape-free Malaysia. The declaration, adopted at the National Pharmacists Convention 2025 in Putrajaya today, outlines a six-point stand opposing the promotion, normalisation, and use of all forms of nicotine products, particularly among youth. MPS president Professor Amrahi Buang said that in light of aggressive marketing targeting adolescents and health risks, the declaration reflects pharmacists' ethical responsibility to protect public health. "This is a call to action for a healthier Malaysia. Pharmacists stand united in rejecting all forms of nicotine harm and industry interference. This declaration also supports tobacco endgame policies such as the Generational Endgame (GEG) and calls for full enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for the Public Health Act," he said in a statement today. He also praised the principled stance of His Majesty Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, who recently called for a national vape ban. Amrahi said the declaration reinforces pharmacists' zero-tolerance stance on tobacco and vape-related harm and calls for flavour bans, stricter age enforcement, and widespread public education. It also warns against industry narratives framing vape as a 'safer' option. "The MPS today outlined five key action areas: public education, early intervention, policy advocacy, community engagement, and surveillance. Pharmacists are not just dispensers of medication, we are community protectors," he added.
Rakyat Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- Rakyat Post
US-Based Ispire Technology Will Produce Nicotine Products In Johor, Where These Products Are Banned?
Subscribe to our FREE A US-based cannabis vaping and e-cigarette company, Ispire Technology Inc, announced that they received an ' They claimed that this is the 'first and only nicotine manufacturing license issued in Malaysia' that's approved by both the Federal and State authorities. In a release, the company claimed the license fully authorises Ispire Technology to 'export, import, and produce nicotine products'. Strangely, the company's Malaysian subsidiary will be based in Johor where vape and e-cigarette sales are The news of a foreign company setting up a nicotine manufacturing plant drew criticism from the online public. A user wondered what happened to all the campaigning done for the Generational Endgame (GEG) law while another person questioned why the company was allowed to set up its base here. There have been reports about school children getting addicted to vape and e-cigarette products as well as reports of Some felt the health of citizens were not taken into consideration or protected. Meanwhile, others said it felt like betrayal because the government allegedly banned local vape shops but turned around to let Ispire Technology mass produce similar products to be sold on a large scale. READ MORE: READ MORE: READ MORE: PPPKAM responds In light of this news, the Malaysian Association of Public Health Physicians (PPPKAM) PPPKAM believes the move will affect the public's health if the products are marketed in the country. The association also feel it will affect Malaysia's image and reputation on the international level for being seen as complicit in the production and distribution of nicotine products with no regard for the health of the public. PPPKAM maintains that nicotine is an addictive substance which negatively impacts brain development especially among teenagers and increases health risks such as heart disease, stroke, and other health complications. Additionally, the move goes against the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health 2024 (Act 852) which was enacted to tighten control over products containing nicotine to protect public health, especially vulnerable groups such as children and teenagers. PPPKAM hopes the government will review the decision to issue the interim license and consider the long term implications towards public health and the country's reputation. Sooooooooooo. GEG apa cite? — hakikat (@Beberuruang) — Leonard Devasagayam Pillai (@PillaiLeonard) Hidup madani ini la pelaburan billion2 yg dibawa 😆. Tutup local vape, open international kaki pusing sapa la vote kerajaan kaki pusing ni — 🇲🇾 🇵🇸 Random things (@thinkermind_) Pengkhianatan terang terangan. Yeye nak ban vape sana sini pung pang pung pang bagi orang luar (siap ada rekod guna dadah kanabis) bukak kilang kat sini. — Jimbo (@Jimbo7375373576) Betul ke ni YAB Dato — Amirul 🇲🇾 🇵🇸 (@amirulimananuar) Aku tak paham betullah, kau suruh negeri negeri haramkan vape and tup tup syarikat US dapat lesen pertama di Malaysia untuk produce product vape. So sebenarnya nak bagi laluan industri vape ke syarikat luar, bukanlah sebab kesihatan pun. Kan? — Ikhwan (@JatIkhwan) Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
The Star
15-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Vaping ban revisit always possible, says Dzulkefly
PUTRAJAYA: Although there was a missed opportunity to ban outright vaping at the federal level previously, Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the situation can always be revisited. Acknowledging the missed window of opportunity to ban smoking and vaping previously, the Health Minister said the government's current focus is on rigorous regulation under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) to reduce smoking and vaping habits, particularly among minors. 'Federally, we missed the opportunity to ban vaping previously, but this can always be revisited. 'Currently, with the standalone law of Act 852, we implement comprehensive regulations on all smoking and vaping products, allowing close monitoring of enforcement in terms of registration, advertising, packaging, sales to minors, and display. We control the supply chain closely from end to end. 'At present, this is our stance. I have stated that laws are never set in stone. If there is a need to revisit them, I am always open to that. 'However, for now, I emphasise that comprehensive regulation is in place to reduce smoking and vaping habits, particularly among underage individuals. 'We do not compromise or hesitate to enforce the laws passed in parliament,' he said when met after launching the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2024 Nutrition report at the ministry here yesterday. Dzulkefly was asked about a nationwide ban on vaping, as some states have enacted local government laws to halt the issuance of operating licences and prohibit the sale of vape products within their states. 'Local governments can control the sale of vaping products by not issuing licences. This means that while vaping is not banned outright, the absence of licences prevents sales operations at the local level,' he said. When asked if the ministry would stop there, he said, 'Laws are never static. Please understand that I have been asked these questions many times, yet my answer remains the same. 'Laws are never static; they are living and dynamic, always responsive to the needs and realities of the time, including medical evidence and other factors. 'In the future, we may revisit this issue if there is medical and clinical evidence that warrants such action, and we will certainly act on it,' he said, adding that for now, 'we are guided by Act 852'. The Generational Endgame (GEG) ban, part of Act 852, was originally intended to prohibit individuals born on or after Jan 1, 2007, from purchasing or smoking tobacco products, including vapes. However, the GEG element was removed from the final Bill due to constitutional issues. Act 852, which took effect on Oct 1 last year, still regulates vaping and smoking products by covering registration, sale, packaging, labelling, display and the prohibition of smoking in public places. On a separate matter, the Health Ministry has received approval to increase the on-call duty allowance for healthcare workers and an announcement will be made later, said Dzulkefly. He reiterated that the welfare of healthcare workers has always been among the ministry's priorities. 'We have already received approval for the increase in the active on-call allowance. We just need to announce the amount. 'I have been asked to wait for the announcement,' he said. The on-call allowance is compensation for the additional responsibilities carried out by medical officers in treating patients while on call at hospitals after regular working hours. Dzulkefly added that the ministry had also received approval regarding the fee schedule involving private clinics and hospitals. Meanwhile, Terengganu is set to enforce the ban on the sale of e-cigarettes or vapes at business premises in the state on Aug 1, said state executive councillor for local government, housing and health, Datuk Wan Sukairi Wan Abdullah. Wan Sukairi said the state exco had agreed to enforce the ban in a meeting on April 23. 'The decision was a proactive measure on the part of the state to ban the sale and use of e-cigarettes or vapes, which can adversely affect the health of the population, particularly the younger generation,' he said in a statement yesterday. He said the state will uphold its policy of not approving licences for vape or e-cigarette businesses, and that compounds will be imposed on premises that continue to sell vapes and e-cigarettes after the ban has been enforced. 'The state government has also decided not to receive any form of sponsorship from vape product producers or distributors for programmes and events organised by the government, including advertising vape products,' he said. Meanwhile, Dzulkefly also refuted claims that the ministry had splurged on a large-scale Hari Raya celebration by inviting celebrities, saying that both Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin and Datuk Jamal Abdillah were guests at the dinner. 'Datuk Siti was invited through the platform of Yayasan Nurjiwa, and Datuk Jamal was a guest,' he said. He added that the ministry did not pay anything for their performances, while Jamal said he was given a symbolic token. 'This (Hari Raya event) is also to celebrate all staff of the Health Ministry, not only from Putrajaya but other places as well,' he said.
