Background
The Malaysian Organization of Vape Entity (MOVE) was established as a vapers’ rights program in 2015 with the objective of promoting vaping as a healthier alternative to smoking conventional cigarettes.[1]
Relationship/engagement with the Tobacco Industry
MOVE representative Azrul Hafriz Bin Zainudin participated in the 1st Asia Harm Reduction Forum in November 2017 as a panelist in the session “The Search for Less Harmful Alternatives: Consumers’ Perspective.”
Lobbying against Tobacco Control measures
MOVE has been one the key supporters advocating for the regulation of ENDS/HTPs in Malaysia over an outright ban, in order to protect the interest of the vaping community. MOVE launched an e-petition to the Ministry of Health rejecting plans for a ban on vaping. The petition called for the vape industry to be regulated and for vaping to be approved as a viable alternative to smoking regular cigarettes.[2]
In response to the establishment of duty on vape products and e-cigarettes, MOVE president Samsul Kamal Arrifin Mohd Basir objected to the move to tax vapes like regular tobacco products; he called for taxation to be conducted in a way that would not burden consumers.[3]
Other activities
MOVE joined other vapers’ associations from the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia to form a movement called #VapersBeHeard. The announcement was made during a closed-door seminar titled “Alternative Tobacco Products Regulations: The Role of the Consumers”, which was organized by the Malaysian Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) and the Minimal Government Thinkers Inc. (Philippines) in September 2018.[4] The objective of #VapersBeHeard was to unite the voices of Asian vapers to demand their inclusion in policy discussions about regulating alternative tobacco products.[5]
[1] https://www.facebook.com/groups/right2vape/about
[2] Online petition to regulate the Malaysian vape industry filed by Malaysian Organization for Vape Entity (MOVE) to Malaysia Health Ministry. Available at: https://www.change.org/p/kementerian-kesihatan-malaysia-objektif-kami-ialah-supaya-industri-vape-malaysia-diluluskan-dan-diselia-we-aim-to-regulate-the-malaysian-vape-industry
[3] Ghazali R. (2015). Vape industry players call for ‘guidance’ from authorities. The Star, 7 November 2015. Available at: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2015/11/07/vape-players-regulation-wanted
[4] Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) Malaysia. Available at: http://www.ideas.org.my/event/alternative-tobacco-product-regulations-the-role-of-the-consumers/
[5] Fetalino Dennis F. (2018). Asian vapers: United voices. People’s Journal, 17 September 2018. Available at: https://journal.com.ph/editorial/opinion/asian-vapers-united-voices