MyWatch Criticises Health Ministry’s Appeal in Nicotine Case, Calls for Public Health to Come First
PETALING JAYA: Women’s Action on Tobacco Control and Health Malaysia (MyWatch) has expressed disappointment over the Health Ministry’s decision to appeal against a High Court ruling that found the exemption of liquid and gel nicotine from the Poisons Act to be unlawful.
Its president, Roslizawati Ali, said the court’s decision should have provided an opportunity for the government to reassess its policies on vaping and e-cigarettes while restoring public confidence in the country’s health governance.
Instead, she said, the ministry’s decision to proceed with the appeal has raised concerns over its priorities and the interests it seeks to protect.
“The High Court ruling should have been an important opportunity for the government to acknowledge policy mistakes, restore public trust and place public health above all else.
“By continuing with the appeal, questions inevitably arise as to whose interests the ministry is truly protecting,” she said in a statement today.
Roslizawati stressed that the Health Ministry’s primary responsibility is to safeguard the health and wellbeing of Malaysians, prevent diseases and ensure effective public health policies.
According to her, pursuing the appeal could create a perception that the ministry is placing greater emphasis on protecting the vaping industry than on safeguarding children and teenagers from nicotine addiction.
“The decision to appeal may give the impression that the ministry is more inclined to defend the interests of the vape industry than the health of young Malaysians.
“This is no longer merely a regulatory issue. It has become a public health emergency,” she said.
She argued that the exemption of liquid nicotine from the Poisons Act in 2023 paved the way for the rapid expansion of vape and e-cigarette products throughout the country.
The move, she said, has coincided with increasing concerns over nicotine addiction among school students and young people.
Roslizawati pointed to aggressive marketing strategies employed by vape manufacturers as one of the key reasons behind the rising popularity of vaping among youths.
She said the use of attractive flavours, colourful packaging and lifestyle-oriented promotions on social media platforms has made vape products particularly appealing to younger consumers.
“These marketing approaches normalise vape use and expose children and teenagers to nicotine addiction at an early age,” she said.
In response, MyWatch is urging the government to consider imposing a comprehensive ban on recreational vape and e-cigarette products.
The organisation said the ban should cover vape devices, nicotine liquids, non-nicotine products intended for recreational use, as well as all forms of advertising and promotional activities related to such products.
“Malaysia should not become a testing ground for an industry that profits from addiction.
“We need a clear and firm policy to protect future generations,” Roslizawati said.
Apart from a blanket ban, MyWatch also called for stricter enforcement against the illegal sale of nicotine products and for the expansion of smoking cessation and addiction treatment services, particularly for young people.
Roslizawati said tackling vape use requires a comprehensive strategy that combines education, enforcement and sustained public health interventions.
She added that decisions made today will have long-term implications for the nation’s health and therefore public welfare must remain the overriding priority in all policies concerning nicotine and tobacco alternatives.
