Health Minister: "It's a Matter of When to Ban"
Total E-Cigarette Ban Targeted by Next Year
Singapore Also Strengthens Penalties for Distribution and Use
As illegal electronic cigarettes containing drug substances, commonly referred to as 'zombie cigarettes' in Southeast Asia, continue to spread, the Malaysian government is moving to implement a total ban on e-cigarettes.
A new type of electronic cigarette drug smuggled into the country last June was seized by the National Intelligence Service. Yonhap News
According to local media outlet The Star on the 17th (local time), Malaysian Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad stated the previous day, "The question is not whether to ban e-cigarettes, but when to ban them." He added that the government aims to implement the related measures by mid-next year, or at the latest by the end of the year, depending on the completion of the necessary regulatory and legislative procedures.
Minister Dzulkefly explained that concerns are mounting over e-cigarettes containing impurities and synthetic substances linked to drug-induced mental disorders and other mental health issues, and that the Ministry of Health is focusing on finalizing the policy. He also emphasized that the e-cigarette ban aligns with existing health policies and the recommendations of medical organizations such as the Malaysian Medical Association.
In recent years, the use of e-cigarettes among young people, including teenagers, has surged in Malaysia and across Southeast Asia, raising concerns. In particular, electronic cigarettes containing narcotics such as 'etomidate,' a general anesthetic, have spread-these are commonly known as 'zombie cigarettes' and have become a significant issue.
Etomidate, often referred to as the 'second propofol,' is known to have begun being abused as a narcotic since 2023. It is commonly smuggled by being mixed into e-cigarette liquids and is considered a gateway that leads users to severe substance abuse.
Singapore, which has faced similar problems, significantly toughened penalties related to e-cigarettes in September, allowing for up to 20 years of imprisonment and 15 strokes of the cane for importing or distributing narcotic e-cigarettes.
For users of regular e-cigarettes without harmful substances, fines were raised from a previous maximum of 500 Singapore dollars (about 540,000 won) to a maximum of 700 Singapore dollars. Those caught using e-cigarettes for a third time face criminal prosecution; students may be suspended, civil servants can be dismissed, and military personnel may face dismissal or detention as additional disciplinary measures. Foreign nationals who are repeatedly caught may be banned from entering the country.
Although Singapore has officially banned e-cigarette use since 2018, enforcement was previously lax. However, as zombie cigarettes became widespread in Thailand and throughout Southeast Asia in recent years, the country has significantly strengthened penalties.
Meanwhile, in June, the leader of a Singaporean drug trafficking organization attempting to smuggle etomidate-laced e-cigarettes into South Korea was apprehended through the cooperation of the National Intelligence Service and Malaysian authorities.
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