This open letter asks Malaysia’s Ministry of Health to regulate vaping transparently, proportionately and on the basis of evidence. It acknowledges that vaping is not risk-free, that children should not use it, and that sellers to minors and syndicates distributing drug-laced cartridges should face serious enforcement. It argues, however, that commercial nicotine products, cheap disposables, THC, synthetic drugs and unidentified mixtures cannot be treated as the same problem.

The letter asks KKM to publish the complete methodology behind the projected RM369 million treatment-cost figure, classify hospital cases by substances detected, and use toxicology and documented chain-of-custody procedures. It also calls for an official clinical pathway for adult smokers, with complete cessation of combustible cigarettes as the immediate objective and prolonged dual use discouraged.

Its policy proposals include targeting cheap disposable products first, regulating youth-oriented marketing, preserving adult access through licensed channels, replacing the online-sales ban with digital KYC and verified adult delivery, reducing disproportionate SME compliance costs, recognising equivalent accredited testing, reassessing the 15 ml rule, establishing product standards and recall systems, protecting personal data, managing battery waste and evaluating policy through smoking prevalence, complete switching, youth access, toxicology and black-market indicators.
