Top Takeaways:
- Sarawak, a state in Malaysia, advances with a phased vape product ban in response to a surge in youth usage.
- The state reports nine enforcement cases, 15 arrests, and over 200 ml of banned vape liquid seized since 2023.
- Sarawak reported approximately 39,608 adolescents aged 13–17 using vapes in 2022, the highest in Malaysia.
The Sarawak Cabinet has approved a plan to gradually ban vape products in Malaysia’s East Malaysian state, responding to a sharp rise in vaping among teenagers and the general population, according to media reports.
Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, the Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development, announced the decision during a press briefing on Saturday.
“In Sarawak, we cannot ignore the escalating trend of vape use, especially among adolescents,” Fatimah said. The phased ban “reflects a firm commitment to protecting the health and future of young people.”
She revealed that since 2023, state police records show nine cases and 15 arrests related to vape liquids with banned substances, with 209.55 ml of liquid seized. Meanwhile, the Sarawak State Education Department reported 1,075 students involved in vaping at local schools.
The phased ban policy will need more regulatory and implementation details, including timelines for when specific vape products will be restricted, how enforcement will proceed, and how retailers and users will transition.
For industries supplying or distributing vaping products in Sarawak, the announcement signals a major policy shift toward stricter enforcement and reduced market availability in a region where adolescent uptake has been among the highest nationally.
To date, five Malaysian states — Sarawak, Johor, Terengganu, Kelantan, and Perlis — have either enacted or will soon enact policies that effectively ban retail vape sales by refusing to issue business licenses, according to media reports. Meanwhile, three other states — Kedah, Penang, and Selangor — are currently considering similar measures.
