KUCHING: The Tobacco Product Control for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which came into force on October 1 last year, will now expand its enforcement to include local authorities (PBT) in Sarawak, strengthening the control over the sale of vape and electronic cigarettes in the state.
Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, said this step allows enforcement officers under the PBT to also be granted powers by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) to enforce the law comprehensively.
“This is important because Act 852 not only controls traditional tobacco products, but also electronic cigarettes and vape, including those containing nicotine which were previously exempt from the Poisons Act.
“Among the key provisions are the prohibition on sales to individuals under 18 years old, bans on promotion, advertising, and sponsorship, as well as the prohibition of online sales or vending machines,” she said.
She said this during a press conference at Baitulmakmur Building 2 here today.
Fatimah explained that the Act also prohibits the sale of vape in certain areas such as educational institutions, universities, and public spaces, including night markets.
She stressed that delegating powers to the PBT will broaden the scope of enforcement, allowing the law to be implemented more effectively at the grassroots level.
In addition to PBT, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDN) also plays a role in inspecting premises suspected of selling counterfeit electronic cigarettes, particularly those related to drugs or unapproved products.
“Comprehensive enforcement requires information from the public. Public reports are crucial so immediate action can be taken against any premises that violate the law,” she said.
She added that collaboration among various enforcement agencies is critical as the trend of vape usage is becoming increasingly alarming, especially among teenagers.
The 2022 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) also recorded Sarawak as the state with the highest rate of vape or electronic cigarette use among teenagers aged 13 to 17, with 39,608 users compared to 23,733 users in 2017.
“An increase in prevalence has also been noted among individuals aged 15 and above, from 4.5 per cent in 2019 to 7.3 per cent in 2023,” she said.
She further mentioned that Act 852 was approved to close the existing legal gap, which previously could not curb the use of vape among teenagers, especially with the mixing of drugs, particularly after nicotine liquid was removed from the scheduled poisons list in 2023.
Due to this, with stricter enforcement, the state government hopes to protect the younger generation in Sarawak from early addiction to vape, which can lead to long-term health issues, she added.
