PETALING JAYA: The government must enforce a total ban on vaping immediately and not wait until 2026, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) says.
Its president Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo said the government’s decision to delay a full ban on vaping until mid-2026 was disappointing, pointing out that drug-laced devices, including those containing fentanyl, were already in circulation.
“This delay is unacceptable. Every single day without a total ban means more of our youths becoming addicted, more cases of EVALI and other lung injuries surfacing, and more opportunities for vaping devices to be misused for dangerous drugs such as fentanyl,” he said in a statement on Friday (Sept 26).
EVALI is short for e-cigarette, or vaping product use-associated lung injury.
Dr Thirunavukarasu stressed that vaping had fuelled a new wave of nicotine addiction among youths, who are mostly lured by aggressive marketing and flavoured products.
According to him, even children as young as eight could identify vape juices, while worrying health consequences such as lung injuries linked to e-cigarettes had already been reported.
“Drug-laced vapes have also been detected in the market. It should be stressed that fentanyl, already found in vape devices, is far deadlier than nicotine,” he said.
Dr Thirunavukarasu warned that postponing the ban was not “buying time” but “prolonging the period of harm and addiction.”
“Each month of delay risks more preventable illness, more lives lost, and an even deeper addiction crisis. This is not a problem for tomorrow. It is a problem for today,” he said.
He urged the government to act responsibly and place public health before industry interests or tax revenues.
“Public health cannot wait. The time for a total ban on vaping is now, not 2026,” he added.
On Thursday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the government is targeting the middle of next year to enforce a ban on vape products as part of its phased anti-smoking plan.
He said an expert committee had submitted its recommendations, with a Cabinet memorandum on the proposal now being finalised.
