He told the Dewan Rakyat that the recommendation would be submitted to the finance ministry, along with a proposal for a higher floor price for all vape products, mirroring the controls aimed at curbing smoking among teens and school students.

“We will propose that the finance ministry increase the vape liquid tax from 40 sen per millilitre to RM4 per millilitre,” he said in response to a question from Wan Saiful Wan Jan (PN-Tasek Gelugor).

He said the excise hike could be considered as an immediate step under the 2026 budget before the government proceeds with banning vapes and e-cigarettes as a whole.

Lukanisman also said the ministry would table a Cabinet memorandum on the ban by this year, citing pressure from parents, the media, community leaders and MPs.

He noted that attempts to table the generational endgame (GEG) bill had failed in Parliament.

With the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 enacted in place of the GEG, he said the health ministry would enforce this law “more strictly and consistently”.

Lukanisman said an estimated RM244.8 million had already been spent on treating cases of vape-related lung injury, while the ministry’s regulatory impact analysis projected that costs could reach RM300 million to RM400 million by 2030.

“It is better to eliminate both cigarettes and vape as they remain a health hazard,” he said.