With vape-related drug cases rising in Sarawak, minister says full ban still on the table

“KUCHING, May 15 — The Sarawak Government does not rule out imposing a complete ban on vaping in future, said Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah. The Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development noted that Sarawak is currently focusing on stricter enforcement and regulatory measures as part of efforts to address the growing misuse of electronic cigarettes. “The Sarawak Government believes that public awareness, prevention, and community readiness must first be strengthened to ensure that any future policy, including a possible complete ban, can be implemented effectively and receive wider public support,” she said. She was responding to Joseph Chieng Jin Ek (GPS-Bukit Assek), who had asked about the possibility of a complete ban on vape products and enforcement measures to curb vaping among youths during the question-and-answer session at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today. Fatimah said various awareness and intervention programmes on vaping are being strengthened through schools, communities, and collaborations with relevant agencies, focusing on educating youths about nicotine addiction, the health effects of vaping, and the dangers associated with drug-laced vape products. “Enforcement actions are being carried out in close collaboration with the Royal Malaysia Police, through the Sarawak Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department, together with the Sarawak State Health Department. “This includes targeted operations against vape devices containing prohibited substances, monitoring illegal distribution networks, and stricter enforcement against the sale and supply of vape products to minors,” she added. She revealed that statistics from the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department showed that in the first four months of 2026 alone, the value of seizures exceeded RM700,000, with vape-related drug cases increasing significantly from four cases in 2023 to 14 cases in 2025. On recent cases, Fatimah said that between January and May this year, four minors were issued compounds under Section 13(3) for the illegal purchase of smoking products. “During the same period, 253 minors were charged under Section 17(1) for smoking- or vaping-related offences, while three vendors were charged under Section 13(1) for selling smoking products to minors,” she added. — The Borneo Post

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