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.
