“It is no longer a question of if we ban, but when we ban,” says Malaysia’s health minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad, on a vape ban. Photo credit: Ahmad Robin, Pexels.
Malaysia is inching closer to a full nationwide ban on vaping. On August 21, 2025, the country’s health minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad confirmed that a detailed report on the proposed prohibition of e-cigarettes and vapes was being finalized by a Health Ministry expert committee. According to theborneopost.com, he stated, “It is no longer a question of if we ban, but when we ban.”
Malaysia’s stricter stance is driven by mounting health concerns – particularly among youths – and the discovery of illicit substances such as THC, fentanyl, and cocaine in vape liquids. Vaping has surged among Malaysian teens, especially those aged 13-17. The government sees vaping as a gateway to nicotine addiction, with long-term health consequences. It is looking to neighboring Singapore’s strict anti-vaping stance, which effective September 1, 2025, treats vaping as a drug issue.
The expert committee’s findings – including evidence of drug contamination – will be submitted to the Cabinet when complete. While no concrete timeline was given, the Health Ministry is aiming to present a full memorandum on the proposed ban of e-cigarettes to the Cabinet by the end of this year, according to Dzulkefly Ahmad.
In less than three years, Malaysia’s stance on vaping has shifted dramatically—from tax-driven legalization to the brink of prohibition.
In 2023, the government removed liquid nicotine from the Poisons List to impose an excise tax, effectively legalizing nicotine e-liquids and fueling rapid market growth. By 2024, Parliament codified regulation under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act (Act 852), which banned retail displays, online sales, and vending machines, capped nicotine strength, and mandated product registration. The act dropped the proposed “Generational Endgame” clause that would have phased out smoking and vaping for future generations.
Since October 2024, enforcement has stepped up with nationwide inspections, seizures, and penalties. According to Dzulkefly Ahmad, the number of registered brands has dropped from over 3,200 to 390, while registered variants have reduced from 6,800 to 2,794. Six states—Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis, Kedah, and Pahang—have moved to ban retail sales by stopping issuing or renewing business licenses for vape sales. As of August 1, 2025, Terengganu and Perlis have implemented full bans.
The proposed nationwide ban has been met with criticism. Industry observers warn that outright prohibition could collapse the formal market—valued at MYR3.48 billion (US$0.82 billion) in 2023 and supported by thousands of retail outlets—while fueling black-market supply. A recent survey of 641 consumers commissioned by consumer advocacy group Malaysian Vapers Alliance found that 74% fear bans will expand the illicit market, while 80% worry unregulated products could be unsafe.
Despite all efforts, enforcement remains uneven. Experts say that to match the challenge, the scale of enforcement must grow. Malaysia’s porous borders and history with illicit cigarette trade add another layer of complexity. The country has long struggled with illegal tobacco products, which are estimated to account for more than half of all cigarette sales. Analysts warn that a total vape ban could replicate this pattern, driving demand underground and creating a new black market.