Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob believes the decision to allow the sale of e-cigarettes only by licensed pharmacists and registered medical practitioners was made too hastily. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, November 10, 2015. Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today urged the Health Ministry to reconsider a proposal to allow the sale of e-cigarettes only by licensed pharmacists and registered medical practitioners.
Writing on his Facebook page, Ismail Sabri suggested that the decision was made too hastily, adding that it would affect the livelihood of many young Malay traders.
"With only one meeting, the Health Ministry has made the decision to allow vape to be sold only at pharmacies. In pharmacies means that vape traders can no longer do business as pharmacies are huge companies, including those owned by foreign organisations.
"This move will definitely kill vape businesses that are mostly owned by young Malays," he said.
He said he hoped the Health Ministry would reconsider its latest proposal on the matter, by taking into account the amount of losses that vape retailers would have to endure in closing down their businesses.
"I hope the ministry will sit down with vape traders to discuss the best resolution for a win-win situation and at the same time, quickly announce a clear set of guidelines to the community," said Ismail Sabri, who supports the use of e-cigarettes and last month announced the Cabinet's decision not to ban vape.
Putrajaya is still grappling with the fledging but lucrative industry as vaping catches on with those trying to quit smoking and others keen on trying a new trend.
Last month, the Malaysian E-Vaporisers and Tobacco Alternative Association (Mevta) said it had between 4,000 and 5,000 members.
Some of the larger outlets selling vaporiser pens and flavoured liquids are said to earn about RM50,000 a month.
The government's handling of the issue, however, has been conflicting. Previously, it was considering a move to ban vaping, citing health concerns, but this had caused uproar among proponents.
The cabinet later decided not to ban it but the Health Ministry has moved on to raid vape stores to seize oils that contain nicotine.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah yesterday said that vape with nicotine content could only be sold by licensed pharmacists and registered medical practitioners, as unauthorised sale of nicotine was an offence under the Poison Act 1952.
Meanwhile, retired deputy inspector-general of police Tan Sri Mohd Najib Abdul Aziz has said that the danger in vape lay in its potential to be mixed with drugs like syabu and marijuana, which made it hard for enforcers to detect. – November 10, 2015.
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