Big Pharma Not Big Tobacco Is Behind Calls For Vape Ban In Malaysia Claims Vape Advocate

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PHARMACEUTICAL companies – not tobacco firms – are the ones fuelling calls for a nationwide vape ban, according to the Malaysian Organisation of Vape Entity (MOVE) which is rallying to get he Malaysian vaping industry regulated.

Speaking in a recent podcast, MOVE president Samsul Kamal Ariffin claimed that “Big Pharma” is leveraging its influence to undermine the local vape industry in order to safeguard its own nicotine replacement products such as patches and gums which face stiff competition from alternatives like e-cigarettes.
“The real force behind the proposed vape ban is not Big Tobacco but Big Pharma,” revealed Samsul. “They’ve been influencing policymakers from behind the scenes because vaping threatens their market share.”
The Health Ministry has confirmed that an expert committee is currently reviewing the legal, economic and public health implications of a nationwide ban.
Several states, including Johor, Kelantan, Perlis and Pahang, have already moved to halt vape licence approvals, raising concerns that the ban may soon become reality.

MOVE president Samsul Kamal Ariffin 
Samsul cautioned that prohibition would have unintended consequences. “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.”
According to him, history shows such measures rarely succeed. “Prohibition has never worked. We’ve seen this in Singapore, India and even Australia that when regulation fails, the black market thrives.”
Harm reduction role
Under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), vape liquids containing nicotine must already be registered with the Drug Control Authority with sales restricted to those over 18.
But critics argue that enforcement is patchy and open-system devices remain widely available.
Rather than imposing an outright ban, Samsul urged authorities to strengthen enforcement of existing rules and consider restricting sales to licensed vape shops staffed by trained personnel.

He also called for tighter controls on illegal online sales and more public education.
“Instead of protecting public health, it will expose more people to greater risks,” he warned. “If you ban it overnight, not only are you killing livelihoods but you’re also enabling the illegal trade to thrive.”
As it is, the local vape sector is estimated to be worth over RM3bil and supports thousands of small businesses and jobs.
MOVE and other industry groups argue that vaping plays an important harm-reduction role, pointing to data from Public Health England and other international studies showing that e-cigarettes are significantly less harmful than smoking and have helped many Malaysians quit traditional cigarettes.

On this note, Samsul alleged that pharmaceutical companies are capitalising on public anxieties over underage vape use to lobby for sweeping bans instead of evidence-based regulations.
He cautioned that the end result would be an even bigger black market and greater risks to consumers. –  Focus Malaysia

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