Consider This: Can Malaysia Ban Vape by 2026? (Part 2)

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Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad recently announced that Malaysia is moving towards a nationwide ban on the sale and use of vapes by mid-2026, and that government consultations are underway on the legal, economic and enforcement aspects. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Azrul Mohd Khalib, Chief Executive of the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy.

Transcript

00:00Hi, welcome back to Consider This, I'm Melissa Idris.

00:13Let's continue our conversation about Malaysia's plans to ban vape by mid-2026.

00:20This after Health Minister Dr. Zulkifli Ahmad said the government is already looking at

00:26implementation and enforcement mechanisms to enforce this.

00:30So joining us on the show to discuss this further is Azrul Mahmukhalid,

00:33who is the Chief Executive of the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy.

00:37Azrul, the Galen Centre has publicly supported stronger action against vape.

00:44And I'm just wondering what you make of this phased approach that Malaysia is taking to this nationwide ban.

00:49Do you think it is the right approach?

00:53Does the sequencing make sense to you operationally and politically?

00:59Well, Melissa, one of the realities that we have to face when it comes to the issue of vape and e-cigarettes

01:07is the fact that this is a very big economic sector.

01:12It employs a large number of workers.

01:15I think the last time I checked was around 4,000 workers and 4,000 retail shops

01:27and brings in I think around 3 billion ringgit into the economy.

01:33So the issue here is really not one where we can simply ban.

01:41And the Malaysian government has taken a pragmatic and gradual approach to this issue

01:49rather than an outright ban.

01:51Contrary or when we look in comparison to Singapore, for example,

01:57which recently has instituted not only a ban of vape and e-cigarettes,

02:03but also decided to treat it like dangerous drugs with even fines ranging from at least $2,000 for possession

02:15all the way up to imprisonment and so-called.

02:18So we've got some Malaysia because we're also manufacturing, we're exporting to other countries around the world.

02:23So this approach is really one that is very much dependent on the people gradually coming around to the idea

02:33that vape and e-cigarettes is not good, is harmful, and is especially addictive in comparison to things like cigarettes, for example.

02:42And this is where public support, actually, Melissa, rather than government initiative or policy

02:51is actually driving the motivation, providing the energy and the political will

02:58to eventually get to a point where we are possibly going to see vape and e-cigarettes be banned in the future.

03:04And this is something that's interesting to see because, you know, we have a checklist of different states

03:11that have decided to ban the sale of vape and e-cigarettes, and we're slowly going down that list.

03:18So I think there's around six or seven states now that have decided to ban the sale of vape and e-cigarettes.

03:24I think the latest one was fair up.

03:25Could I just ask you, in terms of just our track record when it comes to implementing tobacco-related prohibitions and limitations,

03:40the GEG policy, the generational endgame, that never materialized despite the very strong public health arguments.

03:47I'm wondering, Azra, what lessons you think we should learn from that experience,

03:51considering that all these different factors of public support and political will will come into play?

03:58Well, you know, the GEG is very much an ideal proposition,

04:06one that for other countries they have adopted,

04:10and it basically endeavors to ensure that there is a future where not only is it a smoke-free generation,

04:18but it's also a generation that doesn't really know what nicotine addiction is, you know?

04:24I mean, imagine that.

04:26But that's like a future that doesn't recognize carbonated drinks, to be honest, Melissa, you know?

04:33And one that you have to gradually get through via awareness and support of the public.

04:39And maybe we'll get there at one point where they decided, you know,

04:43the prevalence of smoking, vaping is low enough that we might as well just ban it altogether.

04:51But at the moment, when you look at the prevalence of smoking in Malaysia, which is around 20%,

04:56and the fact that almost half or one out of two males smoke in this country,

05:07and less than, I think, 2% of women who smoke,

05:12the prevalence shows you that it's probably not going to be an effective tool to introduce GEG at this point of time.

05:21And maybe when the prevalence goes down a little bit more, perhaps at the 15% or 12% range,

05:28then maybe we can try again with the GEG and see if we can get the support needed.

05:33But one thing that is very educational for us to see with the vape and e-cigarette debate that's happening right now

05:40is that the public are in the mood to at least ban vape and e-cigarettes.

05:47So, you know, that's interesting.

05:49Oh, that, okay. So, to leverage on that momentum,

05:53what do you think the government needs to do to secure public buy-in between now and mid of next year?

06:00What messaging, what political strategy would be necessary to leverage on that momentum you talked about?

06:08Well, you know, so as I mentioned just now that Pera is the latest to implement this ban,

06:16which is to not issue or renew sales licenses.

06:22So, you can't sell vape and e-cigarettes in these states.

06:27And you have, in addition to Pera, you are now Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis, Kedahan, Pahang.

06:34So, sooner or later, you're going to ask yourself the question, it's going to be pretty much most of the states.

06:42So, might as well just ban the thing, right?

06:44You know, and I think the mayor of Kuala Lumpur, oh, correct me, sorry, correction,

06:52the police chief for Kuala Lumpur sounded an alarm recently that he was concerned that Kuala Lumpur

07:02or the Wilay and Peskutuan territories could end up as being an oasis for people to buy vape and e-cigarettes.

07:10If all the states decide to ban the sale of vape and e-cigarettes, right,

07:15the only place where you can purchase vape and e-cigarettes is going to be in Kuala Lumpur.

07:21So, it's going to be a situation where you're going to end up with that very uncomfortable status

07:27and the federal government will need to decide because right now the individual state governments are deciding on that.

07:35So, to answer your question, what we are seeing right now is really this build-up of public support

07:42for banning at least the sale of vape and e-cigarettes,

07:46but that seems to be very much, you know, something that we're seeing at the state level

07:50rather than at the federal government.

07:53So, there needs to be some kind of harmonization at least happening between states.

07:57And federal government, can I ask you, in terms of lobbying and conflicts of interest

08:04during the implementation of the vape ban, what is it that policymakers should think about

08:11or manage, particularly from the tobacco and vape companies with commercial stakes?

08:17You pointed out in the beginning of our conversation how many jobs it employs,

08:20how many retail outlets there are.

08:21So, there is clearly a commercial interest here to stop this vape ban.

08:27What would you like policymakers to consider?

08:30Well, I think for one thing, actually under the conventions that govern tobacco control,

08:40it's actually prohibited for government officials to actually engage with representatives of the tobacco industry.

08:49And this is something that in some countries is much more strict than in others it's not.

08:56But again, you know, going to the fact that these industries contribute a certain amount of GDP

09:05and, you know, income tax and so forth, providing jobs and so forth,

09:11policymakers are going to be bound to the requirement for them to at least be heard.

09:18And this is something that we have to acknowledge, but also we have to tamper with the fact that

09:25even though they may be doing all this, they may be contributing this amount of revenue.

09:32But the fact is, is that this is a harmful industry.

09:35And this is one that's not necessarily beneficial for Malaysia in the long run.

09:41And, you know, there are other industries that we can support.

09:45So the government is in a difficult place today in making this decision.

09:52But as I mentioned, you know, it's really going to be the people who will voice out their support

09:59and to provide that political will and backbone to our politicians, MPs, ministers, you know,

10:06and the policymakers to finally come around to this decision that, you know, people could argue

10:13should have been made maybe 10 years ago.

10:16But, you know, better late than never, I suppose.

10:19But are you optimistic that we will see a complete ban on vague products by 2026?

10:28Mid-2026?

10:29Well, I think I can be definitely optimistic, but those realities I mentioned mean that lobbying will happen.

10:37A lot of business owners who contribute politically and also provide support to politicians

10:47will want to meet with people in government to try to influence and to try to change their minds.

10:54But, you know, I definitely see it happening in the next five years.

10:59And this is something that, you know, countries like Singapore have already decided to do ages ago.

11:07But for Malaysia, the stakes are much more higher.

11:11And especially when you consider who owns many of these businesses also.

11:14And the fact that livelihoods are dependent on them as well is something that we were once upon a time

11:21thinking about when it came to the tobacco industry, you know, with the tobacco plantations and so forth

11:28that were happening in the East Coast.

11:30So we're getting in this predicament, you know, whether or not to ban something that a lot of people

11:35depend on their families and livelihoods.

11:38Azrul, thank you so much for lending us your insights, your analysis.

11:42I appreciate you. Thank you.

11:43That was Azrul Mahmalkalib from the Gallant Centre for Health and Social Policy.

11:47Wrapping up this episode of Consider This.

11:49I'm Melissa Idris signing off for the evening.

11:52Thank you so much for watching and good night.

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