1: Postponing Malaysian tobacco bill good for vaping

Legalising vape sales in Malaysia remains on the table despite the Heath Minister postponing the ‘generational endgame’ anti-smoking bill after considerable public and political pressure, says a local vaping advocacy group.

Malaysia’s Minister of Health, Khairy Jamaluddin, made the decision not to table the bill despite the bipartisan special parliamentary select committee making amendments and reaching consensus.

MOVE would like vaping and non-combustible products out of the legislation and for the Government to treat them quite differently as harm reduction tools

Also encouraging, was a visit last month to New Zealand by a Malaysian parliamentary delegation to understand what policies are required to achieve smokefree. New Zealand has legalised and regulated vape sales and is now on track to achieve its national ambition of Smokefree 2025 – where five percent or fewer of the population smoke regularly.

“As well as giving the 21% of Malaysians who smoke a less harmful alternative, regulating vaping will ensure Malaysia has product safety standards, not to mention extra tax revenue. We are pleased the Government is taking its time on this one. An evidence-based approach will serve them well,” says Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA.

The Right2Switch petition urging the WHO to respect consumer rights and end its lies against vaping has now been signed by over 10,000 people. It can be viewed and signed at https://change.org/v4v-petition