Vape traders in Penang have urged the state government to regulate vaping instead of banning it, saying proper research should be conducted first before prohibiting its sale.

Their association, Persatuan Pengusaha Vaping Pulau Pinang (Penang Vape Entrepreneurs Association ) or PPVPP, said the state should also consider banning cigarettes.

If the state plans to ban vaping, it should first ban cigarettes, which is considered more harmful than vaping, said PPVPP assistant secretary Christopher Mark Reutens.

Reutens said cigarettes posed a danger to youths and children, who have been found smoking.

“Why crack so hard on vape? It’s healthier, this is a fact. Don’t judge vape without proper facts,” Reutens said at a public dialogue in Komtar today, organised by the Penang government.

Also present at the dialogue were about 30 PPVPP members, who wore back T-shirts, with the words “thankyouCM” on their left sleeves.

Also in attendance were Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Deputy Chief Minister Rashid Hasnon, state executive councillors Abdul Malik Kassim and Dr Afif Bahardin, Penang Health Department public health physician Dr Azizah Abdul Manan and National Poison Centre director Razak Lajis.

PPVPP deputy president Wan Mahzan Megat Teh said vape was designed for those who wished to stop smoking.

“We have helped hundreds of smokers kick the habit of smoking, by converting them to vape,” he said.

Wan Mahzan said the association welcomed any effort to supervise or regulate the vaping business, but urged the authorities to conduct proper research on the issue first before smacking a ban on their business.

PPVPP member Alvin Ooi said the association, which comprises business owners, was here to guide smokers away from their addiction to cigarettes.

The smokers are provided another option to their addiction in vaping, which posed less risk to their health.

“Anti-nicotine pills are not working because smoking is habitual; the smokers may just need to hold a cigarette because that is what they have been doing for 10 years,” Ooi said.

“Our surveys show those who converted to vape have better stamina and life with their family. Of course, we also need to continue to educate the public that smoking is bad.

“We introduce vaping, which has lesser risky chemicals, with the hope that at the end, smokers will stop smoking; a few of our friends have achieved that and stayed away from cigarettes for months,” he added.

“The PPVPP will help the Penang government enforce no-vaping rules in places gazetted as no- smoking (zones), to ensure vapers do not affect third-party non-smokers,” he said.

So far, two states – Malacca and Johor – have decided to ban vaping.

Consumers Association of Penang education office MN Subbarow said the state government should not only ban vaping but also sisha (water pipes) immediately.

“We have done much research. Sisha is sold in primary schools for RM15 and schoolchildren are found to have paid RM60 per month for it,” he said.

“We want Penang to lead the way in banning vaping and sisha. We have banned plastic bags and polystyrene containers with success, why not this?” he asked.

“To the vape entreprenuers, do other businesses. Don't cheat children and kill youths,” he said.

DAP Seri Delima assemblyperson RSN Rayer said he has received many complaints about vaping, including fears it contained drugs, and had raised the issue at the Penang state legislative assembly.

Although he respected those in the vape business, Rayer said the concern was more for those who have children who are exposed to e-cigarettes, which seemed more serious than smoking.

“What is the liquid in vape? Is it legal or not? Vape seems to be more serious than cigarettes because even children are attracted to it,” he said.

“If we want to continue allowing vaping, we must find a way on how to regulate the activitity to ensure it is not abused,” he added.

PKR’s Batu Uban assemblyman Dr T Jayabalan said evidence of unsafe chemicals in vaping abound and the state government should not wait for further proof to ban vaping.

National Cancer Society, Penang branch vice-chairman Dr T Devaraj said any decision to ban vaping should be based on health and economics.

He said the fight against tobacco took many years before people saw its harmful effects, adding that “the tobacco industry is so powerful it can buy any government”.

Good intention

“The danger is there (in vaping) although not enough studies are being done yet but we need to be cautious. How long do we want to wait for evidence to say whether it is good or bad before imposing a ban?” he asked.

Azizah thanked the vape indutry players for their “good intention” to stop smokers from smoking.

“But your choice of method to stop smoking is neither accurate nor safe. I know it is not fair to ask you to stop your business without finding a solution to the problem because your intention is good,” she said.

She then asked PPVPP to join the Health Department’s anti-smoking programme ‘M-Quit’, where vape sellers can find an alternative to their business to help smokers with their addiction.

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Penang vape traders told to present more cogent arguments