KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry is studying laws to implement a blanket ban on e-cigarettes, or vaping.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said it is the ministry’s long-term goal to ban vaping before it becomes a major health issue.
The ministry, he said, is studying the various legal avenues available on how to achieve its goal.
He said an announcement will be made once the ministry has completed its study.
Subramaniam said the ministry is also brainstorming with other agencies and ministries on the most relevant Act.
“We want to choose an Act that will give us the most power which will enable us to ban it. I would like this to happen before it becomes a major health issue," he added.
In recent years, vaping has become a trend among Malaysians, not only among cigarette smokers who view it as a safer alternative, but also among non-smokers.
Recently, Subramaniam had advised Malaysians to stop vaping temporarily until the risks of vaping are announced.
He had also said that the Health Ministry was in discussions with various agencies and related parties to get their views on the effects these methods of smoking have on health.