Event being probed over alleged vape firm sponsorship

PETALING JAYA: A recent Youth and Sports Ministry sports programme is under investigation after the event was allegedly sponsored by a vape product company, says Adam Adli Abd Halim (pic).

The Deputy Youth and Sports Minister said the ministry’s policy disallows any companies associated with tobacco or vape products from being involved in any of its youth or sports programmes.

“This matter is under investigation,” he wrote in a reply to X user @khairul_hafidz on Saturday.

In Khairul’s original post, he highlighted that the Foodie Fütbol Fest 2024 was co-sponsored by a vape company through an official promotional poster for the event that was going viral online.

Among its listed strategic partners was the Youth and Sports Ministry, while the event was also supposedly supported by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.

He then tagged the relevant ministers, Hannah Yeoh and Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing respectively, in his post as he asked, “I see two ministries are supporting and named as strategic partners with a vape company. Doesn’t this violate Section 9 of the Control of Tobacco Act?”

Khairul was referencing the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health 2023 Bill that was passed by the Dewan Rakyat on Nov 30 last year, which prohibits any form of advertising, promotion or sponsorship of vape products.

The three-day event, which began last Friday, involved various food and beverage vendors, sports competitions, lifestyle programmes, children’s activities, and even a small petting zoo for kids.