KUALA LUMPUR: The question is no longer if vaping is going to be banned but when it will happen, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
“As we are speaking, my expert committee is preparing a report, which we intend to immediately present to the Cabinet," he said when winding up debates on the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Aug 21).
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Dzulkefly reiterated that the way forward will be banning vapes, noting how vape fluids can be laced with harmful substances.
He said the authorities were considering all aspects of vaping's effects, including the risk of lung damage.
“However, we need to have a legitimate expectation that, if vaping is suddenly banned... legal action can be taken against us (the government),” he said.
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He added that vape-related matters are also on the agenda of the Asean Health Ministers’ Meeting next year.
Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen (PH-Bandar Kuching) had asked if Malaysia will crack down on vaping, as was done in Singapore.
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On July 28, the Health Minister said Putrajaya is considering a nationwide ban on the use and sale of e-cigarettes or vapes.
When 13MP was tabled on July 31, however, it was revealed that pro-health taxes would be expanded, including on vapes.
This raised an eyebrow among activists, with concerns emerging that the proposal to ban vaping may falter.
