KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 ― Minister Khairy Jamaluddin told the government today not to single out vaping amid a crackdown after a health official said drugs like marijuana, methamphetamines and ketum juice have been found in vape liquids sold in Johor.
The youth and sports minister also said on Twitter that he favoured strong regulation for both tobacco and vaping but that if Putrajaya were to launch a ban, both should be banned.
“Weed is also found with tobacco when you pass the kutchie down the left hand side. So ban cigarettes already,” Khairy tweeted from his @Khairykj account.
He also said: “That’s what I meant”, in response to Twitter user @ZikriMzd who tweeted, “@Khairykj let’s ban everything shall we? Fair and square. It’s disappointing to see all the negative views on vape yet ciggs are sold openly”.
Local daily Berita Harian reported today Johor Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat as saying that the National Anti-drug Agency (AADK) and the Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam) have discovered in Johor flavoured vape liquids being mixed with drugs like cannabis, methamphetamines and ketum juice.
The Health Ministry raided vape shops earlier this week and confiscated nicotine products.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam has said that the ministry is empowered to do so under the 1952 Poisons Act and 1983 Food Act, as vape shops are currently not licensed to sell any products which contain nicotine.
Malaysia is purportedly the world’s second largest market for vaping after the United States, with sales estimated at RM2.84 billion last year.
