The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) is deeply troubled by a CodeBlue report that Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad has proposed exempting liquid nicotine used in vape products from the Poisons List, and that the proposal has received the endorsement of the Poisons Board.
If these claims are true, MMA strongly opposes the move. It raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to protecting public health.
We call on the health minister to urgently clarify the matter and explain the public health justification for the proposed exemption.
The experience of 2023 must not be forgotten. The Poisons Board had opposed the exemption of liquid nicotine, but the government proceeded anyway.
In May this year, the High Court struck down that exemption, ruling that the decision was irrational and driven primarily by economic considerations. Are we now heading down the same path again?
While the regulatory landscape has changed with the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) in force, the public health risks remain. Regulation alone is not enough. The end goal must be a complete nationwide ban on vape products.
We are particularly alarmed by the growing problem of drug-laced vape products in Malaysia. This is no longer merely a concern about nicotine addiction. Vape devices are increasingly being misused to consume dangerous and illicit substances.
In July this year, the Home Ministry revealed that 718.43kg of vape products suspected of containing prohibited substances had been seized between 2023 and June 2026, with 585 arrests involving 400 cases. These are disturbing figures.
Drug-laced vaping threatens to create a much wider public health and social problem, potentially contributing to drug dependency, serious medical complications, greater pressure on health care services, and broader public safety concerns.
How much worse must the situation become before decisive action is taken?
The health minister himself acknowledged in June that the discovery of dangerous synthetic drugs in vape products provided strong grounds for a nationwide ban. More importantly, he must make his stand on vaping absolutely clear.
Last year, he publicly declared that banning vape was no longer a question of “if” but “when”, with the government targeting a nationwide ban in 2026.
What has changed? Why is the government reportedly considering a move that could facilitate the continued sale of nicotine-containing vape products when it had previously committed to banning them?
Is the government still committed to a nationwide vape ban, or has that commitment been abandoned?
MMA’s position has been clear and consistent. Vape products should be banned nationwide.
Vaping poses a serious public health threat, particularly to children and young people. Nicotine is highly addictive, and we should be doing everything possible to prevent another generation from becoming dependent on it.
We must also question the government’s priorities. Are we putting the health of Malaysians first, or are commercial interests and tax revenue taking precedence?
The government has a responsibility to protect public health, particularly the health and well-being of future generations. Its decisions must be guided by scientific evidence and public health priorities, not commercial considerations.
If the government chooses to continue allowing vape products in the market despite mounting evidence of the risks, the health minister must be prepared to accept responsibility for the consequences of that policy decision, particularly if drug-laced vaping and its associated harms escalate further.
MMA calls on the health minister to provide an immediate explanation, reaffirm the government’s commitment to a nationwide vape ban and provide a clear timeline for its implementation.
Malaysia should be moving towards eliminating vape, not normalising it. Public health must come first. There should be no compromise when it comes to protecting Malaysians from the harms of vaping.
This press statement was issued by MMA president Dr Sivanaesan Letchumanan.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
