SHAH ALAM, Dec 24 — The Malaysia E-Vaporizers and Tobacco Alternative Association (Mevta) pleaded today for the government to stop conducting raids and urging local councils to freeze licensing on vape traders.
Its vice president Ikhbal Zakaria said the raids were unwarranted as Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya has said on Tuesday that Putrajaya will not impose a ban on vaping and will only regulate the sales.
“We have never ever challenged the government or go head to head, we always support the government, we always open our door for discussion, forums but we were never invited.
“On behalf of Mevta please, from now on, we beg you, open the door to us, give us a chance to talk,” he told reporters at Vape Junction, a vape shop here.
He also claimed that the vape industry has contributed RM2.6 billion in sales this year, as well as 30 per cent of import duty revenue and 6 per cent of goods and services tax revenue, but did not disclose the source of his claims.
Ikhbal said despite reaching out to different government agencies since Mevta was set up three yeas ago, only the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Department and Sirim Berhad, the national body for standards and quality, have responded.
He also hoped to join any workshops on the matter, including the one held by the Selangor state government next month, in addition to conducting a roadshow starting end of January to explain and educate the public about the vape industry.
