TO realise its strategy of reducing smoking in Malaysia, the Government is again urged to put in place a progressive regulation for the vaping industry as it has been proven to be a less harmful alternative product and could be considered as a gateway out of smoking.

Based on learnings from a UK top public health agency, Public Health England, it has been confirmed that vaping has helped more than 50,000 smokers in England to stop with cigarettes and switch to vaping as the health risks are 95% lower.
“Malaysia must acknowledge the growing evidence that shows vaping is an effective tool for getting cigarette smokers to quit and significantly lowering health risks,” said Malaysian Vape Chamber of Commerce (MVCC) president Syed Azaudin Syed Ahmad.
Additionally, study by the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), a prominent UK non-governmental organisation (NGO) in tobacco control, found that 58.9% of vapers in Great Britain are ex-smokers, and the proportion has been growing year-on-year.
Meanwhile, specifically in Malaysia, findings from MVCC’s Study on the Malaysian Vaping Industry report showed that 94% of vape users in Malaysia have a history of smoking cigarettes, and the top reasons given for choosing to vape are as a means to quit smoking cigarettes (57%) and because it is less harmful compared to smoking cigarettes (56%).
“In addition to being a proven effective method for smoking cessation, Malaysia must recognise the vape industry as a viable, growing sector that can contribute significantly to the local economy,” Azaudin noted.
“The data from our recent report, which values the Malaysian vape industry to be RM2.27 bil, confirms that the Malaysian vaping industry has significant potential that can be unlocked with practical and comprehensive regulation.” – March 12, 2021