KANGAR, July 13 (Bernama) – Specific rules and orders are expected to be implemented soon regarding the ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) or vaping products, including the sale of e-cigarettes through vending machines.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the Attorney General is now in the final stages of examining the regulations regarding the ban before it is approved.
“We will monitor this issue (sale of e-cigarettes through vending machines) nationwide so that it does not happen again before we implement the regulations and orders, which are in the final stages with the Attorney General,” he told reporters after the opening ceremony of the Health Malaysia National Agenda (ANMS) and ‘Karnival Perlis Hebat: Sihat Milik Semua’ at the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) here today.
“God willing, once the Attorney General approves it, we will proceed with the implementation of these regulations and orders.”
Perlis Regent Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail inaugurated the opening ceremony. Also present was the Raja Puan Muda of Perlis Tuanku Dr Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil.
Yesterday, media reported that a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur has been ordered to stop selling electronic cigarettes through a vending machine.
It was reported that the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a statement that the action was taken following a complaint it received about the sale of vape products from a vending machine. The issue (sale of vape products) recently went viral on the X application.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Dzulkefly said that ANMS is a government initiative to improve health standards with the main objective of making Malaysians healthy by creating a culture of healthy living.
He said that last year’s National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) showed that the health status of the people in this country is worrying, especially in terms of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
He said 29.2 percent, or one in three adults in Malaysia, suffer from high blood pressure, while 33.3 percent, or one in three adults, have high cholesterol.
“One in six adults, or 15.6 percent, has diabetes and 54.4 percent of Malaysians (or one in two) are overweight. This is an upward trend compared to surveys conducted in 2011, 2015 and 2019,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Dzulkefly said that Malaysia is known on the international stage, including the 77th World Health Assembly he attended in Geneva in May, for its well-organised healthcare system, which ranges from village clinics to community clinics, Klinik Kesihatan (health centres), as well as health facilities, secondary and tertiary hospitals and centres of excellence that offer international standard services.
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