tobacco tax Archives

19 May 2026

Opinion

Don’t Appeal Nicotine Ruling, Raise Tobacco Tax Instead

Instead of appealing the High Court ruling or attempting once again to remove liquid nicotine from the Poisons List, the government should raise cigarette excise duties to at least 77 sen per stick. This can generate an extra RM772m in annual tax revenue.

20 February 2026

Letter

Tobacco Tax Increase Crucial To Reduce Smoking — Malaysian Council For Tobacco Control

MCTC demands an increase in tobacco taxes, ratification of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, coordination of enforcement powers at the local council level, and protection of public policy from tobacco industry interference.

13 February 2026

Letter

Raise Tobacco Excise Duty In Malaysia By 20%, Like Singapore — Azrul Mohd Khalib

The Galen Centre urges Malaysia to follow Singapore's footsteps by raising excise duties on cigarettes and tobacco products by 20%, warning that Malaysia risks becoming a "supermarket" for tobacco smuggling if Malaysia keeps tobacco relatively cheaper.

30 September 2025

Malaysia

Fund On-Call Allowance Raise With Pro-Health Taxes: Kuala Langat MP

Kuala Langat MP Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi disagrees with cutting MPs' allowances, especially since Opposition MPs don't receive constituency allocations, but suggests that pro-health tax revenue be diverted to fund a 25% increase in doctors' on-call allowance.

31 May 2024

Malaysia

Cigarettes In Malaysia Too Affordable, Says US Tobacco Control Expert

A Johns Hopkins University tobacco control expert urges Malaysia to raise cigarette taxes that have not risen since 2015. Malaysia's score in the Tobacconomics Cigarette Tax Scorecard dropped from 2020 to 2022, lagging behind top-performing countries.

6 December 2023

Malaysia

Anwar Government’s First Year: Dismal Tobacco, Vape Control

Reviewing one year of the Anwar administration, pharmacists say tobacco and vape control has been "dismal at best" and that Malaysia has been left with a "lose-lose situation" after GEG was dropped. The anti-smoking bill is deemed "not fit for purpose".

13 October 2023

Malaysia

Budget 2024: New Chewing Tobacco Tax, Sugary Drinks Tax Raise

For preventive health, the government introduces a new tax on chewing tobacco under Budget 2024, at a rate of 5% plus RM27 per kg. Excise duty on sugar-sweetened beverages is raised from 40 to 50 sen per litre; revenue earmarked for diabetes treatment.

25 May 2023

Malaysia

Customs Circular Doesn’t Change Existing Taxation On Cigarettes Sold In Free Zones: Deputy Minister

Deputy Finance Minister Steven Sim says a recent Customs circular doesn't reverse a 2021 policy on the taxation of cigarettes in Free Zones, and that the circular simply changes the beer quota.

17 April 2023

Malaysia

Health Experts List 10 Recommendations In ‘Bangi Declaration’ For Tobacco And Vape Control

The ‘Bangi Declaration’ calls for an urgent review of the exemption of liquid nicotine from the Poisons List, a 65% tax rate on all tobacco products, regulatory controls on vape, similar to cigarettes, and a national fatwa declaring e-cigarettes as haram.

24 February 2023

Malaysia

Budget 2023: Government Backs GEG ‘Spirit’, To Earmark Half Of Vape Tax Revenue For Health

During the tabling of Budget 2023, Anwar Ibrahim says the government supports the “spirit” of the GEG and has agreed to earmark 50% of proposed excise duties on vape liquids containing nicotine for the Health Ministry.

Tag: tobacco tax

Don’t Appeal Nicotine Ruling, Raise Tobacco Tax Instead

Tobacco Tax Increase Crucial To Reduce Smoking — Malaysian Council For Tobacco Control

Raise Tobacco Excise Duty In Malaysia By 20%, Like Singapore — Azrul Mohd Khalib

Fund On-Call Allowance Raise With Pro-Health Taxes: Kuala Langat MP

Cigarettes In Malaysia Too Affordable, Says US Tobacco Control Expert

Anwar Government’s First Year: Dismal Tobacco, Vape Control

Budget 2024: New Chewing Tobacco Tax, Sugary Drinks Tax Raise

Customs Circular Doesn’t Change Existing Taxation On Cigarettes Sold In Free Zones: Deputy Minister

Health Experts List 10 Recommendations In ‘Bangi Declaration’ For Tobacco And Vape Control

Budget 2023: Government Backs GEG ‘Spirit’, To Earmark Half Of Vape Tax Revenue For Health

MOH And JPA Making It Hard For Specialists To Stay — Specialist

Universiti Malaya’s Nirmala Appointed To WHO Science Council

I Hope Medicine Is Kind To You — Dr Loshi Rajen

Suicide Prevention In Malaysia: Awareness Is Not Enough — Zainah Mat Isa & Chee Gek Neo

Vape Industry Flags Massive Potential Legal, Commercial Consequences After Government Drops Nicotine Appeal