Jeremy Ong, co-founder of online vape shop VapeClubMY, said they were “pivoting their business to the export market now”.

“Yes, we should definitely be looking outside of Malaysia if we intend to continue growing as one of the world’s vaping authority nations.

“Locally, the vape market has been very weak. We’ve been running for nine months now and we’ve exported 300,000 bottles to several different countries already,” Ong said.

Asked how the local demand could be boosted, Ong said business owners should stop using girls to “whore out” their products.

“This has been one of the biggest contributors to the negative perception about vaping, especially among Muslims.”

The Malay Mail reported yesterday that the number of vapers in Malaysia had dropped from 800,000 last October to 200,000 vapers this month.

Malaysian E-Vaporizers and Tobacco Alternative Association (Mevta) founder and adviser Allan Foo attributed this to vaping being just a passing trend and the Health Ministry ban on vaping due to its perceived dangers.

“There were literally no first-time buyers from last week, with sales of vape liquids dropping by at least 90% since the beginning of the year,” he was quoted as saying.

However, Ong disagreed with the notion that vaping was just a mere trend.

“Vaping is most definitely not a trend. It’s a lifestyle choice that smokers make when they want to start living healthier lives. It’s a real life-saving technology that was developed far too late.”

He also questioned the reasoning by Deputy Director-General of Public Health Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman, who had welcomed the drop in the number of vapers saying that the public sees it as “something that is harmful”.

Ong warned: “The drop in the number of vapers is mostly due to a majority of them moving back to smoking – which has been proven to be harmful.

“I would like to know this: Are the public health officials pleased about this?”

Kamarul Azwan, owner of Dragon Cloud Vape Shop, conceded that “vaping” might be a passing trend, but lamented that the decline started when the Health Ministry “made a big fuss about it”.

“Those who quit smoking and started vaping are wondering whether or not the government will ban vape products totally.

“It is stated in news reports that the ministry’s campaign against vape has been a big success.

“I’m sure those behind it are happy that most of the vapers are now back to their old smoking habits, which in my opinion is worse.

“I wouldn’t say that the campaign was a success. I would say that most of the vapers now are just keeping a low profile for the time being.”

When asked if the vaping industry would continue to decline, Kamarul disagreed and stated that most players in the vaping industry were focused on the international market.

“What the people don’t know is that Malaysia is one of the largest in the world in terms of e-juice and mod building. In fact, we are known worldwide for our products and standards.

“If a Malaysian product (for vaping) is placed anywhere in Europe, it will be sold out like hot cakes. We have the best reputation in e-juice manufacturing as we use ingredients of the highest quality.

“Other countries are seeing us as ‘gurus’, but the Malaysian Government seems blind to our potential.”

Vape users interviewed also lamented the decline in the local vaping industry, saying that vaping should move forward instead of backwards when it comes to health.

Vape user Wesley Wong said it was the best alternative for smokers like himself.

“I’d say the majority of people started vaping just to follow the trend. But for some people like me, it’s an alternative to quit smoking.”

Another vaper, who wanted to remain anonymous, agreed and said the ministry had been responsible for the rapid decline of vaping in the country.

“When the government was raiding and giving the vaping industry a tough time, I was told that 50% of vape shops closed down because of mounting losses.

“Personally, vaping helped me to cope better with my smoking habit,” she said.

Adam Oakley, a chef based in Kuala Lumpur, said vaping started as a trend but has helped several smokers find a healthier solution. He also added that the industry will not have a future if it is not regulated properly.

“Everyone can open shop, everyone can make vape juices. For me that’s the killer there. Everything used to be ‘premium’ but it’s like now anybody can do it.

“Vaping won’t have a future unless it’s regulated and monitored.”