The Health Ministry made good on its vow to crack down on vape retailers across the country yesterday evening, when it conducted nationwide raids on shops selling e-liquids and other vaping paraphernalia, resulting in losses reportedly in the millions of ringgit.
In Selangot alone, more than 300 vape salons were raided yesterday.
Samsul Kamal Ariffin, president of the Malaysian Organisation of Vape Entities (MOVE) decried the Health Ministry raids as unfair, as he claimed vapes are being used by smokers as an alternative to more harmful tobacco smoking, with a view to kick the habit altogether.
Speaking to The Star Online‘s D Kanyakumari and Dina Murad, he said”If they (the Health Ministry) were really concerned about wanting people to quit smoking, why are they spending so much money on anti-smoking campaigns but at the same time paralysing the businesses of those who are helping smokers kick the habit?”
Samsul explained that vape shops across the country were raided, with items being seized and summonses issued. Some shops, according to his account, were cleared out of all their inventory by enforcement officers.
A store owner put up a defiant front in the face of the government crackdowns.
“If you want to confiscate (our products), at least give us fair warning. The raids will not deter our business. We will still continue selling vapes, but we will take it underground.
“Transactions will still go on, just without the store. We will sell it online,” he added.
On Tuesday, Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam declared that his ministry would begin confiscating e-liquids, which are consumed in vapes or e-cigarettes, that contain nicotine. Nicotine is a Group C drug that falls under the restrictions of the Poisons Act 1952 and the Food Act 1983, which states that any party manufacturing, distributing, or selling related products must be licensed.
Yesterday, the Health Ministry announced that it might impose a sin tax on e-liquids, similar to that already imposed on tobacco products.
