Follow Japan’s strategy to reduce harm on smokers, govt urged
January 30, 2026 by freemalaysiatoday.com
Follow Japan’s strategy to reduce harm on smokers, govt urged
The managing director of a tobacco company in Malaysia has urged the government to follow Japan’s example by reducing the harmful effects of smoking instead of banning e-cigarettes and vapes outright. Naeem Shahab Khan of Philip Morris Malaysia and Singapore noted that Japan legally ensures access to heated tobacco products and other alternatives for smokers. He called this a “pragmatic harm-reduction approach.” In Malaysia, e-cigarettes and vapes will be banned by the end of this year, starting with pod system vapes. Khan also highlighted that Japan uses a separate tax structure for heated tobacco products.
