KUALA LUMPUR — The push for a nationwide vape ban is allegedly being fuelled by pharmaceutical companies, claims the president of the Malaysian Organisation of Vape Entity (Move), Samsul Kamal Ariffin.
In an appearance on the Scoop Insight podcast, Samsul accused “Big Pharma” of using its influence to undermine the vape industry in a bid to protect its nicotine replacement products, such as patches and gums, which now face significant competition from alternatives like e-cigarettes.
“The real force behind the proposed vape ban is not Big Tobacco, it’s Big Pharma,” Samsul remarked. “They’ve been influencing policymakers from behind the scenes, because vaping threatens their market share.”
He further alleged that pharmaceutical companies are exploiting growing public concerns about vape misuse and underage sales to push for sweeping bans instead of evidence-based regulatory approaches.
Samsul warned that such a ban would backfire, leading to public health risks as consumers turn to black market products, which are often unregulated and pose a greater danger.
“You can’t eliminate demand by banning something. All you do is eliminate access to legal, regulated options and create space for illicit, unsafe products,” he cautioned.
The Health Ministry is currently assessing the feasibility of a nationwide vape ban, with Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad confirming that an expert committee is reviewing the legal, economic, and public health implications of the proposal.
Currently, under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), vape liquids containing nicotine must be registered with the Drug Control Authority (DCA), and sales to individuals under 18 are prohibited.
Despite this, critics argue that enforcement is inconsistent, and open-system vape devices, which can be refilled, remain widely available and susceptible to abuse.
Samsul contended that a complete ban is not the answer. Instead, he called for stronger enforcement of existing regulations and suggested that vape products should be sold exclusively at licensed vape shops operated by trained staff, rather than at convenience stores or street stalls. He also advocated for more robust measures to curb illegal online sales and better public education initiatives.
“Prohibition has never worked. We’ve seen this in Singapore, India, and even Australia. When regulation fails, the black market thrives,” he argued.
Move, along with other industry groups, has repeatedly highlighted the role of vaping as a harm-reduction tool for adult smokers. Citing data from Public Health England and various international studies, Samsul reiterated that vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking and has helped many Malaysians quit traditional cigarettes.
He also warned that an abrupt ban could decimate Malaysia’s legal vape industry, which is estimated to be worth over RM3 billion and supports thousands of small businesses and jobs across the country.
“If you ban it overnight, not only are you killing livelihoods, but you’re also enabling the illegal trade to thrive,” he said. “Instead of protecting public health, it will expose more people to greater risks.”
The government is expected to announce a decision on the proposed ban in the coming months. However, with states such as Johor, Kelantan, Perlis, and Pahang already halting vape licence approvals, fears are rising that a nationwide ban could soon be implemented. – August 6, 2025