TobaccoReporter logo

Tag: Malaysia

  • Malaysia to Enforce Tobacco Display Ban This Week

    Malaysia to Enforce Tobacco Display Ban This Week

    Restaurants and retail outlets across Klang Valley, Malaysia, are racing to comply with the upcoming tobacco display ban that takes effect October 1 under the Control of Public Health (Control of Sale) Regulations 2024. Operators have been covering cigarette shelves with shutters, tinted glass, and steel panels, while some businesses have chosen to stop selling tobacco products altogether.

    Industry associations say most members are on track, though challenges remain for smaller operators. “Some smaller operators may face challenges in terms of space and storage, but overall, members are aware that enforcement begins October 1, and are preparing accordingly,” said Datuk Jawahar Ali Taib Khan, president of the Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners’ Association, which represents about 3,500 operators. The Petaling Jaya Coffeeshop Association added that shutters supplied by tobacco companies helped speed compliance, though design preferences vary.

    While operators brace for the ban, some anticipate a dip in cigarette sales and call for clearer guidelines and enforcement against illicit products. “Hopefully, the government will conduct frequent inspections to prevent the sale of illegal cigarettes as well,” Jawahar said. More than 51,000 shops nationwide will be affected by the new ruling.

  • Malaysian Think Tank Warns Vape Bans Will Fuel Black Market

    Malaysian Think Tank Warns Vape Bans Will Fuel Black Market

    Policy think tank Datametrics Research and Information Sdn Bhd (DARE) cautioned that state or nationwide vape bans in Malaysia could backfire by boosting the illicit market, undermining investor confidence, and costing the government tax revenue and jobs.

    The warning follows a survey by the Malaysian Vapers Alliance showing 74% of consumers fear bans will drive illegal sales, while 80% worry about unsafe, unregulated products. DARE Managing Director Pankaj Kumar said prohibition “has never worked” and argued that enforcement of existing law under Act 852 is a more effective solution.

    Malaysia’s vape market, once worth RM3.48 billion ($835 million) and supporting 31,500 jobs, has sharply contracted since new regulations took effect, with registered brands plunging from 3,200 to 390. DARE stressed that demand remains strong, but inconsistent state and federal policies are pushing consumers to untaxed and unsafe products.

  • Concern That Malaysian Retailers Won’t be Ready for Vape Display Ban

    Concern That Malaysian Retailers Won’t be Ready for Vape Display Ban

    Anti-tobacco groups are raising concerns that some Malaysian retailers are still not compliant with the tobacco and vape retail display ban (RDB), which is scheduled for full enforcement on October 1 under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852). The Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC) noted that out of more than 51,000 retailers nationwide, a significant number have yet to install the required enclosed cabinets for tobacco and vape products. Observations from the field show some stores leaving certain cigarette products openly displayed and vape products in glass cases.

    MCTC urged the Ministry of Health not to grant exceptions, though it suggested temporary measures—such as covering products with cloth or canvas—if cabinets are still being installed. The council warned that narratives claiming the ban harms small businesses are being used by some retailers to rally political support.

  • MRECA: Should Hear from All Parties, Not Rely on “Biased” Vape Report 

    MRECA: Should Hear from All Parties, Not Rely on “Biased” Vape Report 

    The Malaysia Retail Electronic Cigarette Association (MRECA) voiced concern over the Health Parliament Special Select Committee’s (PSSC) latest report, which proposes a blanket ban on the sale and use of e-cigarettes and vape. MRECA said the report was biased and prepared without consulting key stakeholders, including manufacturers, importers, distributors, consumers, and independent experts.

    “The industry supports firm and balanced regulations, including age restrictions, product standards, and consumer safety measures,” MRECA said in its statement. “However, the process must be transparent and inclusive. Allegations made against the industry should be reviewed and verified with scientific evidence, not assumptions.”

    The association urged the Health PSSC to hold consultation sessions with all stakeholders before finalizing recommendations. “Without a fair and comprehensive process, a blanket ban would unfairly punish the industry as a whole,” MRECA said. “The vape sector should be seen as part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

  • Malaysian Ministry Slammed for Lack of Transparency on Vape Policy

    Malaysian Ministry Slammed for Lack of Transparency on Vape Policy

    Today (September 3), the Consumer Choice Center (CCC) Malaysia criticized the Ministry of Health for withholding details of a July 21 closed-door briefing on e-cigarettes and vaping from both the public and most Members of Parliament. It said, “to date, the details of this briefing have not been made available to the public or Members of Parliament beyond the [Parliamentary Special Select Committee (JKPK)]. Requests from other MPs for more information were reportedly dismissed on the grounds that the session was strictly an internal JKPK matter.”

    According to CCC Malaysia Country Associate Tarmizi Anuwar, the ministry’s lack of transparency and its plan to propose a nationwide vape ban undermine democratic accountability and risk driving consumers to illicit markets. The CCC warned that the proposed prohibition would be premature given the recent enactment of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), inconsistent across jurisdictions, and contradicted by international evidence showing bans fail to curb use.

    The group urged the government to instead form an Implementation Committee on Vape Policy with federal, state, consumer, and industry representation to ensure coherent enforcement and evidence-based regulation.

  • Malaysian Vapers Alliance Warns Ban Risks Fueling Illegal Market

    Malaysian Vapers Alliance Warns Ban Risks Fueling Illegal Market

    The Malaysian Vapers Alliance (MVA) cautioned that uncertainty over state and potential nationwide vape bans undermines the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) and drives consumers toward illegal channels. MVA president Khairil Azizi Khairuddin said a recent survey of 641 consumers found 74% fear bans will expand the illicit market, while 80% worry unregulated products could be unsafe. “Prohibition, in any form, is not the answer,” he said, urging consistent enforcement of Act 852 instead of new restrictions.

    The survey showed 83% of respondents were aware of the law’s implementation in October 2024, and 68% preferred buying regulated products. Yet MoH data indicates legal options are shrinking, with registered vape brands plunging from 3,200 before the law to 390 today. Khairil warned that crackdowns on illegal sales, including drug-laced liquids, prove non-compliant products stem from illicit trade, not regulated businesses.

  • Malaysia: With Rising Illicits and Looming Ban, Vape Sellers Told to Switch Businesses

    Malaysia: With Rising Illicits and Looming Ban, Vape Sellers Told to Switch Businesses

    Vape sellers in Sarawak, Malaysia, have been told to shift into other lines of business as the state government moves toward a full ban on the sale and use of electronic cigarettes. Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Ripin Lamat said businesses should “gradually transform and venture into more promising industries” such as food and beverage or agribusiness, warning that vape products “will destroy our young generation and ultimately undermine the values of future generations.”

    The Sarawak government is preparing legislation to formalize the ban, including a Cabinet paper that is currently under review with input from the state attorney general, secretary, and financial officer. The move follows earlier remarks from state officials linking vape use to drug abuse risks, and aligns Sarawak with several other Malaysian states.

    Similar bans have led to rising black market trade in other markets, and business officials worry the results will be similar in Malaysia, where illicit products are already becoming a problem. A Nielsen survey from May found that 55% of cigarettes sold in Malaysia are illicit, mostly smuggled from Vietnam, China, and Indonesia via ship-to-ship transfers along the east coast, costing the government RM2 billion ($480 million) in lost tax revenue each year.

    Customs has stepped up enforcement with AI scanners, body cameras, and tighter port controls, raising revenue collection by 19% in 2024. However, syndicates remain entrenched, aided by corruption and weak penalties, and officials warn that without stronger naval patrols, tougher laws, and better resources, the black market will continue draining state funds.

  • Malaysia Cracks Down on Tobacco Smuggling, Freezes $52M

    Malaysia Cracks Down on Tobacco Smuggling, Freezes $52M

    Earlier this week, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) launched Operation Sikaro, targeting companies involved in smuggling tobacco, cigarettes, and cigars, that caused estimated government revenue losses of RM250 million ($60 million) from 2020 to 2024.

    The MACC led raids with the Inland Revenue Board, Bank Negara Malaysia, and Customs across 14 sites in Klang Valley and Johor. Authorities froze about RM218 million ($52 million) in personal and company accounts and suspended import licenses of implicated firms.

    Investigations are also focusing on links to enforcement officers and potential money laundering activities.

  • Malaysia Rules Out Generational Endgame, Focuses on Regulation

    Malaysia Rules Out Generational Endgame, Focuses on Regulation

    Malaysia’s Health Ministry confirmed it has no plans to reinstate the Generational Endgame (GEG) policy, which would have banned tobacco and vape sales to those born after 2007. Instead, the ministry said its focus is on enforcing strict regulatory measures under the Smoking Products Control for Public Health Act 2024.

    These measures include mandatory product registration, bans on advertising and sponsorship, tighter sales controls, and expanded smoke-free zones. Officials said the priority is to shield young people from smoking harms through regulation rather than a generational ban. The GEG policy, first proposed in 2022, was dropped before the bill passed Parliament.

  • Malaysia Moving Toward Vape Ban

    Malaysia Moving Toward Vape Ban

    Malaysian Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said he will present an expert committee’s recommendation to ban electronic cigarettes and vape to the Cabinet once its study is complete. He said the move is “no longer a matter of if” and follows the enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024, which has cut the number of smoking product variants in the market by nearly 60%.

    “With strict enforcement, I am confident we can effectively regulate cigarette and vape sales,” Dzulkefly said. “Most importantly, we must protect non-adults, students, and our children from exposure to vape. The Act will be enforced firmly to regulate all smoking products, including vape, for public health.”