PETALING JAYA: The continued sale of unregulated vapes in physical stores and vape devices online reflects the urgent need for comprehensive enforcement, say anti-tobacco groups.
Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control president Prof Dr Murallitharan Munisamy said enough time has lapsed since the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) was passed, calling for a tighter crackdown.
He added that excuses of clearing old stock and more are unacceptable as the Health Ministry has already given a long-landing period on this matter.
“We need to crack down on unregulated vape sales.
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“These issues will persist in the market even if there is a future ban, especially if we lack a comprehensive enforcement infrastructure and ecosystem,” he said.
However, he noted that enforcement agencies cannot tackle this alone, citing how the rakyat can also take action by reporting non-compliance through the JomLapor portal.
JomLapor is a portal dedicated to enforcement advocacy under Act 852.
On the decline in online sales over e-commerce platforms, he said this reflects stricter policing on the part of the Health and Communications ministries.
“However, the problem continues to persist on individual websites and private social media groups. We need a more comprehensive review in order to curb this,” he said.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations’ Tobacco Control coordinator Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah welcomed the removal of vape products from major e-commerce platforms.
“It signals that large marketplace operators are beginning to recognise their responsibility in preventing the sale and promotion of harmful products, especially those targeting or easily accessible to minors.
“However, this did not happen in a vacuum. It follows sustained public concern, enforcement pressure and increasing global regulatory scrutiny,” he said.
Muhammad Sha’ani stressed the importance of clear measurable enforcement targets.
He said simple age-declaration pop-ups are meaningless, noting how anonymous or loosely verified digital commerce creates a fertile ground for illegal activity.
“All online sellers must be properly registered business entities under the Companies Act 2016 through the Companies Commission of Malaysia,” he said.
According to anti-tobacco activist NV Subbarow, more sundry shops are beginning to sell the products without any concerns.
He also claimed that a store in George Town, Penang, is even giving complimentary vape juices to regular buyers if they introduce new “customers”.
“There shouldn’t be a time frame when introducing a ban. It should be all-encompassing and immediate,” he said.
