KUALA LUMPUR – It would be “quite extreme” for Putrajaya to ban vape and cigarettes, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Tambun-PH) said today, and as such, the government has opted to tax the products.
He told the Dewan Rakyat a total ban will likely be ineffective, and that Putrajaya will continue encouraging campaigns raising awareness on the adverse effects to health from vaping and smoking.
“It is quite drastic to take the rather extreme decision of banning vape or cigarettes.
“No country in the world has been able to manage (executing such a ban) as people still choose to smoke despite the government advocating campaigns against (the product),” he said during Prime Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat.
As such, Anwar explained that measures by the government to collect taxes on e-cigarettes and vape containing nicotine is part of an attempt to curb widespread availability of these items.
“While we continue with our campaigns on the negative side-effects (of smoking), we will continue with (our decision to) impose taxes (on the items) to make them less available and more expensive.
“The government believes that it will be difficult to ban the products, but we can still raise awareness (of the health impacts) so that people can make their own choice,” he added.
He also said that while the imposition of taxes might seem like a “moderate move,” it is coupled with restrictions on public areas where vaping or smoking is allowed.
Effective April 1, the government has imposed a new excise duty on nicotine-based vape and e-cigarettes, at 40 sen per ml. However, tax collection is only to begin in May and vape manufacturers have until the end of this month to register with the Customs Department.
Anwar today also stated his commitment to ensuring that the Tobacco Products and Smoking Control Bill 2022 will be tabled in Parliament this year.
Before that, however, the Health Ministry will review aspects of the bill with MPs.
“Many MPs have asked for some provisions (in the bill) to be reviewed, but we hope that it can be tabled in Parliament in the upcoming session in May,” he said.
Previously, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the ministry would table a new law in Parliament with a view towards regulating vape and e-cigarette products containing nicotine.
This came the day after it was announced that nicotine in gels and liquids used in these products were removed from the list of controlled substances under the Poisons Act 1952, a move which healthcare groups have described as regressive.
Umno Youth had also chimed in on the matter, urging the government to table the bill first before deciding to remove nicotine liquids and gels from the list of controlled substances. – The Vibes, April 4, 2023
