‘Leave vape out of proposed ban on smoking’

The GEG law will be a challenge for the authorities and legal vape sellers as it paves the way for unregulated, unsafe and sub-standard products to flood our market, says Tengku Aslahuddin. – AZMAN GHANI/The Star

AN association representing ecigarette users is urging the government to leave out vape products in its proposed ban on smoking for those born in 2005 and later.

This is because the move, or generational endgame (GEG), lumps together vape with tobacco and covers all vaping products.

“An outright ban will only fuel the illicit market and coupled with weak enforcement, it is a recipe for disaster,” says Vape Consumer Association of Malaysia (VCAM) president Tengku Aslahuddin Ja’afar.

While he says the GEG is a good step forward, the VCAM does not support the move.

“The GEG paves the way for unregulated, unsafe and sub-standard products to flood our market when we know that enforcement remains a challenge.

“So it is only wise to create an alternative when the objective is to ban combustible cigarettes.

“The government should ban products that are of higher risk and provide a safer alternative for smokers to switch to, and eventually quit.

“Vape is definitely proven to be less harmful than cigarettes according to many reliable studies by foreign government medical bodies,” he says.

Tengku Aslahuddin says smoking is not a crime but a habit that needs to be tackled medically.

“A more effective way is to offer alternatives or else the younger generation will turn towards more harmful substances,” he says.

As such, he says the government should rethink its plans.

“I strongly believe that if there are no alternatives, people will start looking elsewhere and this is a dangerous route to go down as people will always find a way,” he states.

Instead, VCAM believes that regulating vape products can ensure that they will only be sold to those of legal age.

“There are about two million vapers in Malaysia, and the users get younger and younger, which is very worrying.

“VCAM firmly opposes any form of vape use by underaged consumers, whether or not they contain nicotine,” stresses Tengku Aslahuddin.

As such, by having regulations, he says all vape products will only be sold to adult consumers in a safe and legal manner.

Meanwhile, some smokers and vapers believe people should be given a choice whether they want to smoke or not.

A vaper who wishes to be known only as Jacob, says the GEG sounds like a “pipe dream” as it will be tough to implement the ban in the long run.

“When someone born in 2005 turns 40 in future, it doesn’t appear to make sense to stop such a full grown man from buying a pack of cigarettes.

“Not to mention, people have a choice whether they want to smoke or not.

“To completely decide for the generation born in 2005 and onwards is not fair at all,” says the 47-year-old graphic designer.

A personal trainer who wishes to be known only as John, 39, believes it is better for the government to encourage people not to smoke instead of forcing a ban on them.

“Also, I feel the government should give more leeway for vaping as more often than not, it leads to people quitting smoking entirely.

“Vaping is easily much safer than smoking and thus it should not be held to the same standards as smoking,” he says.

John adds that it is only some people who give vaping a bad reputation by including cannabis in what they smoke.

“That’s clearly illegal no matter the medium,” he says.