Today we welcomed Mr Seow Wei Liang, Second Secretary (Political) at the High Commission of the Republic of Singapore in Kuala Lumpur, for a focused dialogue on vaping regulation. The session was hosted by Professor Dr Victor Hoe and Associate Professor Dr Farizah Hairi, both long-standing champions of tobacco-control research and advocacy.
The discussion focused on the contrasting approaches to vaping regulation in Singapore and Malaysia, where Singapore maintains a complete ban on e-cigarettes. At the same time, Malaysia has introduced the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) to govern the registration, sale, packaging, and promotion of tobacco and substitute products. The conversation expanded to cover developments across ASEAN, where countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines are taking varying stances on banning vaping.
Beyond legislation, the dialogue highlighted the crucial role of public health in shaping long-term health outcomes. Professor Dr Victor Hoe shared that past improvements in population health were primarily driven by structural changes such as access to clean fuel, safe water, and proper sanitation. Moving forward, further progress will depend on enabling healthier behaviours by transforming environments to offer better choices and support healthier lifestyles. However, the ultimate decision to change lies with individuals. This insight is linked to the vaping issue, where bans alone may be insufficient without accompanying behavioural shifts. The discussion concluded with a reflection on the need to understand and address the root causes of unhealthy behaviours while positioning public health as a collaborative effort across sectors and borders.
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