KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 — An NGO today called on the government to impose a total ban on vaping pending a comprehensive study to show that it is safe and posed only limited danger.

The Malaysian Malay Businessmen and Industrialists Association (Perdasama) said the government had the authority to provide the best solution to the matter.

Its president, Datuk Moehamad Izat Emir, said negotiations were ongoing with the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry and the Health Ministry on the introduction of an appropriate standard in terms of the vaping devices and e-liquids.

He spoke at ‘An Evening with the Media’ event organised by Perdasama here.

Asked about the recent Health Ministry seizure of electronic cigarettes or vapes which affected the source of income of entrepreneurs, he said it was better for the businessmen to suffer a little loss than for the people’s health to be jeopardised.

“Do you want to save society or a handful of entrepreneurs in an unpopular industry.

“It is better to consider engaging in the food industry than sell cigarettes that endanger health, what more these artificial cigarettes,” he said. — Bernama