Health Ministry Eyes 900% Vape Tax Hike Ahead of Possible Full Ban

By Ben Liew • 07 Oct 2025 in News

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The Health Ministry is preparing to deliver a massive blow to Malaysia’s vaping industry with a proposed 900% tax hike that could send prices skyrocketing before an eventual nationwide ban.

Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni told the Dewan Rakyat that the ministry will propose raising the excise duty on vape liquids from 40 sen to RM4 per millilitre under the upcoming 2026 budget.

“We will propose that the finance ministry increase the vape liquid tax from 40 sen per millilitre to RM4 per millilitre,” he said, responding to Wan Saiful Wan Jan (PN–Tasek Gelugor).

The proposal doesn’t stop there. Lukanisman said the ministry will also recommend setting a higher floor price for all vape products, mirroring existing tobacco controls aimed at curbing smoking among teens and school students.

According to Lukanisman, the steep tax hike is being considered as an interim measure—one that could take effect before the government moves to ban all vapes and e-cigarettes outright.

He added that a Cabinet memorandum on the proposed ban will be tabled within the year, following mounting pressure from parents, media, community leaders, and MPs.

The Deputy Minister also acknowledged that previous efforts to pass the Generational Endgame (GEG) bill had failed in Parliament. In its place, the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 now serves as the government’s key instrument to tighten regulations.

“The health ministry will enforce this law more strictly and consistently,” he said.

Citing public health costs, Lukanisman revealed that RM244.8 million has already been spent treating vape-related lung injuries, with projections showing that expenses could climb to RM300 million–RM400 million by 2030 if left unchecked.

“It is better to eliminate both cigarettes and vape as they remain a health hazard,” he added.

If approved, the proposed tax increase would represent one of the most aggressive anti-vape measures in the region—potentially reshaping Malaysia’s nicotine landscape and testing how far the country is willing to go to curb addiction among youth.