The Consumers Association of Penang of Malaysia: Should Follow Singapore's Lead in Treating E-Cigarettes as Drugs for Comprehensive Regulation

Aug.25.2025
The Consumers Association of Penang of Malaysia: Should Follow Singapore's Lead in Treating E-Cigarettes as Drugs for Comprehensive Regulation
Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) urges Malaysian government to follow Singapore in treating e-cigarettes as a drug threat.

Key points: 

·Clear and forceful demands: The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) in Malaysia is directly calling on the Malaysian government to follow Singapore's lead in treating e-cigarettes and e-liquids as drug threats, urging comprehensive tightening of related laws rather than conventional regulatory strengthening, with specific and strong demands. 

·Exposing key health risks: Explicitly pointing out that most e-cigarettes on the Malaysian market contain dangerous and addictive chemicals such as diacetyl, and highlighting the rapid increase in usage among students, youth, and young women, emphasizing the urgency of the problem. 

·Sharp questioning and criticism: Questioning "who is responsible for the deaths of young people due to smoking e-cigarettes, and can the government compensate," directly addressing the core issue; meanwhile criticizing parliamentarians and state legislators for prioritizing the business interests of e-cigarette companies over public health, showing a clear stance. 

·Focus on government attitude and actions: Emphasizing the need for the Malaysian Ministry of Health to promptly clarify whether the e-cigarette ban has been implemented, stressing the government's need to abandon delays, demonstrate a firm stance, and focus on the possibility of policy implementation. 

·Singapore's case is instructive: Details mentioning Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's stance on strict regulation of e-cigarettes at the National Day Rally, emphasizing his concern for youth health, providing a clear reference direction for Malaysia.

 


 

According to a report by 8tvnews on August 24th, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) in Malaysia is urging the government to follow in Singapore's footsteps and classify e-cigarettes and e-liquids as a threat similar to drugs, and to tighten relevant laws to prevent the younger generation from falling into addiction and the harmful effects of harmful chemicals.

 

The Penang Consumers Association issued a warning today (24th) stating that most e-cigarette products in the Malaysian market contain dangerous chemicals, including potentially addictive components such as etomidate, posing a serious threat to the health of adolescents.

 

Who is responsible if young people die from smoking e-cigarettes? Can the government compensate for this?

 

NV Subbarow, a senior education personnel of the Consumer Association of Penang, criticized that many members of parliament and state assemblymen have not paid enough attention to the above-mentioned issue. Instead, they tend to prioritize discussions with e-cigarette businesses for commercial interests, neglecting public health.

 

He pointed out that although the number of traditional cigarette smokers is decreasing, the use of e-cigarettes and e-liquids is rapidly increasing among students, young people, and young women. If not sternly addressed, more adolescents may become addicted to e-cigarettes in the future, leading to drug-like dependency problems.

 

Subalao also urged the Ministry of Health to quickly clarify whether they will implement a ban on e-cigarettes. He emphasized that the government cannot continue to delay and must take a firm stance.

 

The association also highly appreciates the stance of Singaporean Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. Heng Swee Keat recently spoke at the National Day Rally and directly addressed e-cigarettes as a serious issue that should be strictly regulated. He also plans to impose heavy penalties on illegal users and provide supervision and counseling for addicts.

 

Subarau pointed out that this reflects the high level of importance that the Singaporean leadership places on the health and future of the younger generation, and is a practice that Malaysia should consider emulating.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Dutch NVWA Seizes Record 277,000 Illegal Vapes; Video Shows “AL FAKHER” Cartons
Dutch NVWA Seizes Record 277,000 Illegal Vapes; Video Shows “AL FAKHER” Cartons
The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, known as the NVWA, seized more than 277,000 illegal vapes near Rotterdam and nearly 150,000 boxes of nicotine pouches in Utrecht and Rotterdam, calling them the largest batches of such products it has found to date. Video footage released by the NVWA shows some cartons in the warehouse bearing the “AL FAKHER / الفاخر” name, though the agency did not identify brands.
Jul.10
Oral Thin-Film Technology Firm CTT Pharma Eyes U.S. Nicotine Product Trials
Oral Thin-Film Technology Firm CTT Pharma Eyes U.S. Nicotine Product Trials
CTT Pharmaceutical Holdings said it has signed a letter of intent with a U.S. company to conduct clinical trials and testing for several potential nicotine products using its patented oral thin-film technology.
Jun.18
KT&G’s Lil Strengthens Market Lead in Korea as Heated Tobacco Share Reaches 47.4%
KT&G’s Lil Strengthens Market Lead in Korea as Heated Tobacco Share Reaches 47.4%
According to South Korea’s UpKorea, KT&G’s heated tobacco brand Lil reached a 47.4% share of Korea’s heated tobacco stick market in the first quarter of 2026. The company is expanding its next-generation products (NGP) business through product development, technology investment and overseas growth. KT&G reported NGP sales of 890.1 billion won (approximately US$650 million) in 2025, up significantly from 279.3 billion won in 2020. Lil products are now available in 34 markets, while KT&G continues building its technology portfolio through patents and multiple product platforms.
Jul.23
Scotland Plans to Remove Business Rates Relief From Vape Shops From 2027
Scotland Plans to Remove Business Rates Relief From Vape Shops From 2027
The Scottish Government plans to remove business rates relief from vape shops from April 1, 2027, saying the measure is intended to ensure vape retailers contribute to the high street and align rates relief with public health commitments, while the impact on convenience stores that sell vaping products remains unclear.
News
Jun.26 by 2Firsts Perspectives
U.S. FDA: Youth E-Cigarette Prevention Campaign Prevented About 444,000 Initiations and Reduced Illegal Vape Sales
U.S. FDA: Youth E-Cigarette Prevention Campaign Prevented About 444,000 Initiations and Reduced Illegal Vape Sales
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said its youth e-cigarette prevention campaign, “The Real Cost,” prevented about 444,000 U.S. youth from starting e-cigarette use between 2023 and 2024 and blocked more than $42 million in unauthorized e-cigarette sales that would have been used by youth.
Market
Jun.25
2Firsts Data | China’s U.S. Vape Exports Have Yet to Regain Previous Growth Momentum in H1 2026, but Hardware Grew 15.2% and 6-Methyl Nicotine-Related Products Rose 234.7%
2Firsts Data | China’s U.S. Vape Exports Have Yet to Regain Previous Growth Momentum in H1 2026, but Hardware Grew 15.2% and 6-Methyl Nicotine-Related Products Rose 234.7%
China’s vape exports to the U.S. reached approximately $1.58 billion in the first half of 2026, remaining broadly stable from a year earlier but still below previous growth momentum. 2Firsts’ analysis of China Customs data shows that the U.S. market has not simply returned to its previous trajectory after the enforcement shock and inventory-driven swings of 2025. Instead, export momentum is shifting across product categories. Vaping devices and atomization hardware increased 15.2% year over year, while 6-methyl nicotine-related and other nicotine substitute products surged 234.7%. Meanwhile, traditional nicotine-containing vaping products continued to face pressure.
Jul.22