'Vape carnival' shocks parent amid concerns over government's commitment to public health

A parent has expressed shock that authorities have allowed an adult-only trade fair for vaping products complete with scantily-clad promoters and free vape giveaways, raising concerns about the current government's commitment to protecting public health.

"Why is such an event even allowed to be held in Malaysia?" asked Loh Kim Seng, writing to MalaysiaNow on the Asia New Tobac Industry Expo (Anty Expo) held at the Mines International Exhibition Convention Centre from Sept 8 to 9.

"As far as I know, conventional cigarette companies are not even allowed to promote their products openly. If so, why are vaping companies allowed to hold a glitzy expo promoting competing brands as though they are smartphones?"

A billboard for the event stated that it is open to those aged 18 and above.

According to the event's website, it aims to bring together "global industry elites to discuss the future direction of the new tobacco industry".

"That statement is loaded with jargon, but one just needs to visit the event's official social media accounts to know that the event is a trade fair for the vaping industry.

"Based on the postings on those social media accounts, it was a carnival-like event, complete with scantily- clad promoters, lucky draw prizes and vape giveaways," said Lim.

Since Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim came to power in 2022, the tobacco and vaping industry has benefited from his government's decision not to implement the generational end game (GEG), a law that bans the sale of cigarettes and vapes to those born from 2007 onwards in order to achieve a smoke-free generation by 2040.

A controversial decision last year by then health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, to exclude liquid and gel nicotine from the Poisons List, only further complicated efforts to eradicate smoking by legalising the open sale of vape products to the public.

In June, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad announced that the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024, which prohibits the sale and purchase of tobacco products, smoking items or tobacco substitutes to person under the age of 18 will come into force this year.

"But given that is the direction, why is the government even allowing an expo on vaping products to be held right under its nose? Why are free giveaways of vaping products even allowed?" asked Lim.

He called for stern action to be taken against the organisers.

"But if there was a legal loophole which allowed the event to be held, the relevant laws and regulations need to be tightened."

MalaysiaNow has contacted Dzulkefly for a response.

Public health advocate Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy recently expressed shock over Putrajaya's decision to keep the tax revenue from vape products collected over the last four years in the Federal Consolidated Fund, despite an earlier promise to use it for health-related initiatives.

This came after Anwar said the government collected RM141.1 million in vape tax revenue, including RM58.55 million from nicotine-containing vape liquid products for the period from 2021 to 2024.

He had previously stated that half of the vape tax revenue would be earmarked for the health ministry, in what was seen to appease criticism that the government was trying to stop stricter anti-tobacco laws in the face of protests from the powerful tobacco lobby.