Amid controversy and dispute within the government on whether or not vaping should be illegal, one minister wants Malaysian vapouriser products to become world famous.
Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said he wants bumiputera entrepreneurs to continue making "great flavours", albeit without the use of controlled substances.
"I want to see Malaysia vape products to be world renowned, and what will make us more proud is it will be the creative works of young Malays and bumiputera," Ismail said in a Facebook posting today.
Vaping became a hot topic after the Health Ministry decided to crack down on vape shops, and seize vape liquids that contained nicotine, a controlled substance that requires a permit to sell.
Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam said vaping could be just as bad as smoking cigarettes.
The raids have been criticised by fellow cabinet members, especially after the cabinet decided on Friday that vaping would not be banned for now.
Ismail meanwhile said he is confident vaping will not be banned outright, but simply regulated.
He said this is based on the Health Ministry's setting up of a vape taskforce yesterday, and the announcement by his deputy Alexander Nanta Linggi that vape prices would be standardised.
As such he hopes that those in the vape industry would follow the laws.
The Umno minister’s comment comes after several bumiputera groups lodged a police yesterday warning the crackdown on vape could cost BN over a million votes in the next general election.
The group also demanded Subramaniam’s resignation over the confiscations that have taken place.
Related stories:
Health Ministry sets up special panel on e-cigarettes
'A million votes up in smoke if Najib doesn't stop vape raids'
