Kuala Lumpur, 24 April 2025 — In response to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police’s recent call for state-level bans on vaping, Tarmizi Anuwar, Malaysia’s representative of the Consumer Choice Center (CCC), warns that such proposals are not only legally inconsistent with the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) but also risk jeopardizing public health outcomes and expanding the illicit trade in nicotine products.

“The federal government has already passed Act 852 to regulate, not prohibit, vape products. State-level bans would fragment the legal framework, send mixed signals to consumers, and weaken enforcement,” said Tarmizi. “Worse, prohibition has proven ineffective in reducing consumption in multiple countries, and Malaysia risks repeating the same mistake.”

Case Studies Show Prohibition Fails

Tarmizi pointed to global examples that demonstrate how bans lead to black markets and do not reduce actual consumption. 

• Bhutan, once praised for being the first country to ban tobacco sales and use, was forced to lift its prohibition on imports during the COVID-19 pandemic when it became clear the ban had fehlgeschlagen to curb use. Bhutanese media reported that tobacco use did not cease — in fact, consumption erhöht, driven by illicit trade and unsafe products.
• In South Africa, a five-month ban on tobacco sales in 2020 had disastrous effects. A staggering 93% of smokers continued to access cigarettes, often through informal channels. Prices surged by 250%, boosting the illicit market and putting consumers at greater health risk due to unregulated products.

“These real-world examples show that bans don’t eliminate demand — they merely shift supply to unregulated, untaxed, and often dangerous sources,” Tarmizi said.

Additionally, he emphasized the severity of Malaysia’s own illicit tobacco trade, where 55.3% of the domestic market in May 2023 was attributed to illicitly traded cigarettes.

Response to Claims on Vape Dangers

Responding to recent statements suggesting that vaping is more dangerous than smoking, with claims that up to 65% of vapes contain banned substances like methamphetamine and ecstasy, Tarmizi emphasized that “vape products have been shown in numerous studies to be effective for helping smokers transition away from combustible cigarettes, which pose far greater health risks.”

He added, “What Deputy IGP Ayob is suggesting amounts to anecdotal scare stories meant to alarm the public — it paints all vape products with the same brush, when in reality, these cases typically involve smuggled products or cartridges misused for substances unrelated to nicotine or vaping.”

“Research from multiple countries highlights that vaping is at least 95 Prozent weniger schädlich als Rauchen und twice as effective at helping smokers quit than any nicotine lozenge, patch, or spray,” Tarmizi continued. 

Tarmizi cited findings from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2023, where 45% of 1,000 Malaysian respondents said they quit smoking due to vaping. The survey also noted that tobacco use in Malaysia declined from 23% in 2011 to 19% in 2023, while vape use increased from 0.8% to 5.8%. “This reaffirms that vaping is an effective tool for quitting smoking — a key step in reducing smoking-related health risks,” he said.

“Furthermore, a 2023 study titled Exhaled Carbon Monoxide Level and Practices among Tobacco and Nicotine Adult Users in Klang Valley, Malaysia by health experts from the Faculty of Medicine at the National University of Malaysia (UKM) found that users of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products exhale far fewer noxious aerosols than a lit cigarette, meaning they pose far less of a risk when it comes to second-hand exposure. The study shows that targeted use of these products can  effectively manage nicotine dependence, offering a safer alternative for smokers,” Tarmizi added.

Aligning enforcement with public health goals

Tarmizi reiterated that 73% of Malaysian vapers are former smokers, using vaping as a harm reduction tool. “Pushing them back to combustible tobacco through misguided bans will harm public health more than help it.”

He also underscored the importance of protecting consumer choice and access to regulated products. “Adults should have the freedom to choose less harmful alternatives. Act 852 ensures a legal, controlled environment for consumers to make informed choices.”“Enforcement must focus on dismantling illicit networks, not penalizing consumers trying to quit. Aligning enforcement with public health goals is key to reducing both smoking and illegal trade,” he  concluded.

The Consumer Choice Center (CCC), a global consumer advocacy group, today called on the Government to review and amend the current e-invoicing framework, urging authorities to exempt small online businesses earning RM150,000 or less annually. 

Under the present policy, small physical businesses with similar revenue thresholds are exempted, while online businesses are still required to comply with e-invoicing obligations.

The association expressed concern that the unequal treatment of small businesses based solely on their sales channel—physical or online—places unnecessary burdens on micro and small online entrepreneurs. This disparity may also result in higher costs being passed down to consumers, affecting product pricing and limiting variety in the market.

Tarmizi Anuwar, Malaysia Country Associate at the CCC sagte “As a consumer association, we are deeply concerned that the current e-invoicing policy unfairly penalises small online sellers, many of whom are everyday Malaysians trying to earn an honest living. It is not reasonable that small physical shops are exempt, yet online businesses operating at the same scale are forced to bear additional compliance costs and administrative burdens. Such an imbalance not only discourages digital entrepreneurship but may also reduce healthy market competition, ultimately impacting consumer choice and pricing.”

Many online businesses already use e-wallets, online banking, and digital payment platforms that automatically generate transaction records. These existing financial systems provide transparency and traceability, making additional e-invoicing requirements redundant and unnecessarily bureaucratic. Instead of imposing rigid compliance measures, policymakers should recognize that digital payment adoption itself enhances financial accountability without burdening small entrepreneurs.

“We strongly urge the Government to level the playing field by extending the same exemption to small online businesses. Supporting the growth of small businesses, regardless of whether they operate online or offline, ensures that consumers benefit from a broader range of affordable products and services, while encouraging the development of a fair and inclusive digital economy in Malaysia.”

CCC reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the interests of consumers and small businesses and welcomes engagement with relevant stakeholders to review policies that affect the broader marketplace.

KUALA LUMPUR, 5th March 2025—The Consumer Choice Center (CCC) supports the Public Administration Efficiency Commitment Bill 2025, which seeks to enhance government efficiency, cut bureaucracy, and improve transparency. These reforms are key to strengthening governance, boosting economic growth, and improving Malaysia’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) ranking. By reducing red tape and improving service delivery, the Bill can enhance Malaysia’s competitiveness in attracting investment and fostering a dynamic business environment.

Tarmizi Anuwar, Malaysia Country Associate at the Consumer Choice Center, stated:

“The tabling of the Public Administration Efficiency Commitment Bill is a positive move towards improving government efficiency and reducing regulatory burdens. This initiative aligns with global best practices in governance and public service delivery. By addressing excessive bureaucracy and implementing a service performance ratings system, the government can enhance transparency, promote accountability, and restore public trust. More importantly, these reforms can create a business-friendly environment that strengthens Malaysia’s overall competitiveness.”

Clause 6 of the Bill, which mandates government entities to review and reduce regulatory burdens by at least 25% every three years, is particularly commendable. Regulatory excess has long been a concern for businesses and consumers, stifling innovation and economic progress. Reducing unnecessary red tape will not only improve Malaysia’s business environment but also ensure a more consumer-friendly regulatory framework, making the country a more attractive destination for investment and entrepreneurship.

Furthermore, the introduction of a service performance ratings system under Clause 7 is a crucial step in monitoring the effectiveness and efficiency of government entities. This will encourage continuous improvement and provide the public with measurable insights into service delivery, ensuring that businesses and individuals benefit from a more responsive and efficient administration.

“The implementation of regular performance assessments and public reporting is essential in ensuring that government agencies remain accountable and efficient. Additionally, allowing state government entities to voluntarily submit performance reports enhances the culture of transparency and fosters competition in service delivery. A government tjrprioritizes efficiency and responsiveness will ultimately improve Malaysia’s ability to compete on a regional and global scale,” added Tarmizi.

The Bill represents an opportunity to tackle inefficiencies that hinder business growth. By streamlining administrative processes and fostering a results-driven public sector, Malaysia can create a more conducive environment for businesses and consumers alike.

The Consumer Choice Center urges the government to ensure the effective implementation of these measures, with clear benchmarks and public engagement mechanisms to guarantee meaningful outcomes. A transparent, efficient, and accountable public administration will not only enhance Malaysia’s international reputation but also improve economic opportunities and competitiveness.

KUALA LUMPUR, 27th February 2025—The Consumer Choice Center Malaysia, through its representative, Tarmizi Anuwar, has questioned the government’s decision to implement the Reference Price Guidelines for courier services, which take effect on 1 December 2024. These guidelines recommend increasing the minimum price for deliveries under 2kg aus RM4.00 to RM5.00.

Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching, recently stated that these guidelines are not mandatory and merely serve as a reference for the industry. However, Tarmizi argues that while they may not be legally binding, such guidelines still harm the market and consumers.

“Although the government claims this is just a guideline and not a mandatory directive, courier companies can use these recommended prices to justify raising their service charges. This will burden consumers, especially small businesses and online sellers who rely on competitive shipping costs,” said Tarmizi.

He also emphasized that this move reduces competition in the market, as courier companies will no longer be incentivized to offer lower prices to attract customers. This deprives consumers of the opportunity to access cheaper services and negatively impacts the growth of the e-commerce industry.

Additionally, these guidelines do not encourage improvements in service quality. “If courier companies are not required to compete on pricing, they may be less motivated to enhance efficiency and service quality. In the end, consumers will not only pay more but also fail to receive the service improvements they deserve,” he added.

A study by Blackbox Research, titled Grasping the E-Commerce Opportunity in Southeast Asia, also found that delivery timeliness and high costs remain major concerns in rural areas, directly affecting the efficiency of e-commerce operations and consumer satisfaction in Malaysia.

“With the increase in the minimum delivery charge, rural consumers, especially in remote areas like Sabah and Sarawak, where logistical access is already limited, will face even higher costs without any guarantee of improved services,” he noted.“This move not only raises costs for consumers but also does not ensure any enhancement in service quality. Therefore, policies that focus more on competition and innovation within the courier industry should be prioritized to ensure more efficient and affordable services for consumers,” he concluded.