SEREMBAN: Negri Sembilan will soon decide whether a statewide ban should be imposed on the sale of vaping and e-cigarette products.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said the state exco would decide on this following the Malaysian Medical Association’s (MMA) revelation that lung injury cases linked to vape and e-cigarette use had been reported in Malaysia, with treatment costs for each patient reaching six figures.
“The suggestion (by MMA) is good. I will take this to the state exco for a decision soon,” he told reporters after chairing the state exco meeting at Wisma Negri.
Last week, MMA urged the Federal Government to impose a nationwide ban on the sale of vaping and e-cigarette products.
It said public health must take precedence over profit, and that the use of such products could jeopardise future generations.
It cited figures from the Health Ministry, which reported a total of 41 e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury cases from 2019 to 2024, costing the government RM150,000 to treat each case.
The National Poison Centre also recorded 111 cases of incidents related to exposure to e-cigarettes or vape liquids from 2015 to 2023.
“The local councils issue licences for the general sale of electrical appliances, equipment or gadgets.
“I will ask the state secretary to liaise with the local councils and see what can be done in the meantime,” he said, adding that he was personally against the sale of such harmful products.
Aminuddin said if the authorities were to ban their sale, they should also ensure they were not available for sale online.
“It will defeat the entire process of closing shops that sell these products when courier companies can send it to your homes directly,” he added.
