Vape Factory to Open in Malaysia Despite Objections

Vape factory to open in M'sia despite objections | New Straits Times | Malaysia General Business Sports and Lifestyle News

KUALA LUMPUR: Despite strong opposition from the Health Ministry and anti-tobacco advocates against e-cigarettes and vaporisers, Malaysia will soon house a vape factory.

The Kilang Vape of Malaysia, which is located in Nilai Utama Enterprise Park, Negri Sembilan, was supposed to be launched on May 12 but the launch failed to materialise.

Initially, the Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Datuk Henry Sum Agong was scheduled to launch the factory, but the ministry has since decided against it after heeding calls from non-governmental organisations and medical experts.

Its minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, in addressing the issue today, acknowledged that he had received objection letters from several concerned groups pertaining to the opening of the factory.

“He (Henry) did not open the factory. He did not attend the ceremony. We received well objections against our ministry launching the factory and decided not to do so,” he said after attending the National Cooperative Consultative Council Meeting 2017 here today.

On the factory operation in Malaysia, despite calls to regulate the vape industry here, Hamzah said “that is a business opportunity.”

“There is nothing wrong for them to do business here. We have laws and as per our regulations, one needs to have a licence to operate in Malaysia. And they (the factory operators) have got the licence.

“Everything is in accordance to the law. Whether they can sell the products in the country or not, that depends on the laws of the respective states,” he added.

It is understood that the factory will be manufacturing vaporisers and nicotine free e-liquids.