PETALING JAYA, Nov 6 — Consumer groups are divided over the Health Ministry’s crackdown on nicotine laced e-liquids.
Malaysia Consumers Movement president Darshan Singh said the group supported the crackdown as it was for the betterment of the consumer.
“Stakeholders should not mislead the public by saying that vaping is a legitimate alternative to smoking cigarettes, it is not,” he said.
“We would call for an immediate ban on e-cigarettes. Regulating it and later campaigning against its usage is hypocrisy.”
Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan has received numerous complaints from vape retailers and users over the crackdown.
“We find that the move goes against natural justice and the research cited that opposes vaping seems hastily done. It’s unfair to crack down on the nicotine content of e-liquids when cigarettes, which have much higher nicotine content, are sold openly,” he said.
Nidzam said vaping should be regulated “or at least give retailers a chance to come up with a system that works”.
“Vaping needs to be regulated and everyone should have a chance to prove whether they’re right or wrong since there’s no conclusive research done yet to say vaping is dangerous,” he said.
Malaysian Consumer Protection and Welfare Board president Datuk Seri Dr Saharuddin Awang Yahya said the welfare of the consumer should be the main concern.
“We understand that vaping is a way to wean off smoking but we are worried about the contents of the liquid and whether it is 100 per cent safe,” he said.
“There’s a good point to this as we are looking out for the welfare of consumers.”
