The Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC) expressed its disappointment with the 2022 budget, tabled on Friday, particularly the announcement that liquids used for vape products would be subject to excise taxes.

“Over the last six years, we had been consistent in asking the government to ban vape, e-cigarettes and any form of electronic nicotine delivery system.

“We want to remind the government and MPs that vape products do not help smokers to quit,” MCTC president Dr Lekhraj Rampal said in a statement.

He said research done in the US had shown that vape products had not been useful in helping cigarette smokers quit their habit and were actually harmful on their own.

What was worrying was that vaping was becoming popular among teenagers.

Lekhraj also called on the government to further increase taxes on cigarettes, from the present 58.6% of the retail price to 70%.

In addition, he said the Tobacco Contol Bill, a draft of which was submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers under Pakatan Harapan in 2019, must be tabled at the next parliamentary session for a more comprehensive tobacco law than that contained in the Food Act 1983, Poisons Act 1952 and the Sale of Drugs Act 1952.