Looming decision on vaping leaves sellers short of breath
BY MOHD FARHAN DARWIS
Published: 4 October 2015 9:00 AM
THE STAR
E-ciggs or vaping is now a multi-million ringgit industry in Malaysia. Vaping products are now locally made with a variety of flavours and models, and cost little to maintain. – The Malaysian Insider pic, October 4, 2015.
Soon after the e-cigarette craze took off among Malaysians, Muhammad Syafiq Zaini, 22, saw an opportunity to turn his love for vaping into a source of income.
With a modest capital of RM1,000, Syafiq and his two partners now make a cool RM150 to RM250 a day, after just three weeks of operating at their 20ft x 10ft rented lot in Bandar Utama, Segamat, Johor.
"Alhamdulillah, so far we're getting an endless stream of customers," Syafiq told The Malaysian Insider.
With reportedly one million vape users in the country, the multi-million ringgit industry Syafiq has joined is booming.
This shouldn't come as a surprise, since e-cigarettes come in a variety of flavours and models, are affordable, and cost little to maintain.
Ahmad Taufiq El Ezzam says his vaping business has increased by 500% since he and his brother first started their company. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mohd Farhan Darwis, October 4, 2015.
It is not difficult to find customers, either – chain smokers gravitate towards the devices as an alternative, and are staking out night markets, kiosks and even Facebook to indulge in the latest craze.
"At first I was just another vape user, but then I grew interested at the idea of earning more income and penetrating the market in Segamat," said Syafiq, who gets his supplies from Subang and Kuala Lumpur.
When asked whether he was aware that the government would soon come to a decision on vaping's health effects, Syafiq said he would do all that was necessary and lawful to ensure business would go on.
Larger-scale businesses also seem to be doing well; Jaza Mohd Jassa, 27, began with a capital of RM30,000 to set up shop with his partner in Section 7, Shah Alam.
The gamble paid off. Seven months down the line, the young entrepreneur is reaping profit from his venture.
"From our rough estimation, we earn about RM50,000 a month, but the profit we make, after taking into account the cost of the product and the shop's rental, is about 30% from the gross income," said Jaza.
However, the government's looming decision on the use and sales of e-cigarettes has Jaza worried.
"We are prepared to work within the confines of the law, but please give us a chance.
"We've invested so much money into the business, please come to a sensible decision."
Jaza admitted that it was difficult to manage the issue of vaping among minors and school students.
In August, Putrajaya said it would announce its official stance on the use of vape within two months, after the health ministry studies the effects of e-cigarettes on the human body.
Malaysian Medical Association president, Dr Ashok Philips, was recently reported as saying that the medical profession would support a ban on vaping devices and the flavoured nicotine liquid until research determines that they are indeed harmful.
He said it would be easier to reverse a ban than to address health effects discovered later.
The health ministry is still in the process of researching and obtaining feedback on vaping, which according to a report by The Star, was a half-a-billion ringgit industry in Malaysia.
It quoted Ibrahim Mohamed who co-organised the recent Vaporizer Convention Kuala Lumpur 2015, and who said Malaysia's vape industry is estimated to be the second largest in the world after the United States, and the biggest in Asia.
The National Fatwa Council, meanwhile, has declared vaping "haram", or prohibited, because it was dangerous, wasteful and harmful to health.
Jaza Mohd Jassa (right) began with a capital of RM30,000 to set up shop selling vaping products in Section 7, Shah Alam. Together with his partner, they now make a gross income of RM50,000 a month. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mohd Farhan Darwis, October 4, 2015.
But government interference in the still as yet unregulated industry was only to be expected, said Cirgago Vapestore Shah Alam's managing director, Ahmad Taufiq El Ezzam, 30, who entered the business in 2012.
"Since two or three years ago, we've been through this situation, where the e-cigarette issue suddenly blows up in the public eye.
"Many are worried the government will outlaw vaping, but we're confident it won't happen," he told The Malaysian Insider when met at his outlet in Section 7, Shah Alam.
He said he welcomed the government's official stand on vaping, as he wants his business to be recognised.
Taufiq operates from both his shop and on the Internet, where he sells vape-related products such as flavours and accessories.
The company spearheaded by his brother even sells flavours they created themselves, complete with their own brand name. Fruity and drink-based flavours were most popular, including one with the flavour of sirap bandung, a sweet drink of condensed milk and rose syrup.
Each bottle of flavouring comes in different quantities and is sold for between RM35 to RM100, he said.
Taufiq said that in the past, Malaysia had relied on vape products imported from the United States and the Philipines.
But now nearly 95% of flavours are produced here, with many local vape-related products exported to countries like Indonesia, he revealed.
Taufiq said his business has increased by 500% since last year, compared to when he first started out.
"This thing is seasonal. For example during Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations, sales peak... this is a good business," he said.
With the use of vape blooming, Taufiq also educates his customers on the "ethics" of smoking e-cigarettes.
"We explain to them that vaping is like smoking; you can't vape in areas where smoking is prohibited."
But he is worried that any action Putrajaya takes on vaping would affect his business.
"If the government bans vape, it will definitely have an impact and it's our worst-case scenario," he said.
There are an estimated one million people who use vape nationwide, with some 10% under the age of 18, according to Ibrahim in The Star's report.
In the US, a report by the Food and Drug Administration released in December 2014 found that American teenagers were smoking fewer cigarettes but more were vaping instead. – October 4, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/looming-decision-on-vaping-leaves-sellers-short-of-breath#sthash.ii6f6IJT.dpuf
E-ciggs or vaping is now a multi-million ringgit industry in Malaysia. Vaping products are now locally made with a variety of flavours and models, and cost little to maintain. – The Malaysian Insider pic, October 4, 2015.Soon after the e-cigarette craze took off among Malaysians, Muhammad Syafiq Zaini, 22, saw an opportunity to turn his love for vaping into a source of income.
With a modest capital of RM1,000, Syafiq and his two partners now make a cool RM150 to RM250 a day, after just three weeks of operating at their 20ft x 10ft rented lot in Bandar Utama, Segamat, Johor.
"Alhamdulillah, so far we're getting an endless stream of customers," Syafiq told The Malaysian Insider.
With reportedly one million vape users in the country, the multi-million ringgit industry Syafiq has joined is booming.
This shouldn't come as a surprise, since e-cigarettes come in a variety of flavours and models, are affordable, and cost little to maintain.
Ahmad Taufiq El Ezzam says his vaping business has increased by 500% since he and his brother first started their company. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mohd Farhan Darwis, October 4, 2015.It is not difficult to find customers, either – chain smokers gravitate towards the devices as an alternative, and are staking out night markets, kiosks and even Facebook to indulge in the latest craze.
"At first I was just another vape user, but then I grew interested at the idea of earning more income and penetrating the market in Segamat," said Syafiq, who gets his supplies from Subang and Kuala Lumpur.
When asked whether he was aware that the government would soon come to a decision on vaping's health effects, Syafiq said he would do all that was necessary and lawful to ensure business would go on.
Larger-scale businesses also seem to be doing well; Jaza Mohd Jassa, 27, began with a capital of RM30,000 to set up shop with his partner in Section 7, Shah Alam.
The gamble paid off. Seven months down the line, the young entrepreneur is reaping profit from his venture.
"From our rough estimation, we earn about RM50,000 a month, but the profit we make, after taking into account the cost of the product and the shop's rental, is about 30% from the gross income," said Jaza.
However, the government's looming decision on the use and sales of e-cigarettes has Jaza worried.
"We are prepared to work within the confines of the law, but please give us a chance.
"We've invested so much money into the business, please come to a sensible decision."
Jaza admitted that it was difficult to manage the issue of vaping among minors and school students.
In August, Putrajaya said it would announce its official stance on the use of vape within two months, after the health ministry studies the effects of e-cigarettes on the human body.
Malaysian Medical Association president, Dr Ashok Philips, was recently reported as saying that the medical profession would support a ban on vaping devices and the flavoured nicotine liquid until research determines that they are indeed harmful.
He said it would be easier to reverse a ban than to address health effects discovered later.
The health ministry is still in the process of researching and obtaining feedback on vaping, which according to a report by The Star, was a half-a-billion ringgit industry in Malaysia.
It quoted Ibrahim Mohamed who co-organised the recent Vaporizer Convention Kuala Lumpur 2015, and who said Malaysia's vape industry is estimated to be the second largest in the world after the United States, and the biggest in Asia.
The National Fatwa Council, meanwhile, has declared vaping "haram", or prohibited, because it was dangerous, wasteful and harmful to health.
Jaza Mohd Jassa (right) began with a capital of RM30,000 to set up shop selling vaping products in Section 7, Shah Alam. Together with his partner, they now make a gross income of RM50,000 a month. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mohd Farhan Darwis, October 4, 2015.But government interference in the still as yet unregulated industry was only to be expected, said Cirgago Vapestore Shah Alam's managing director, Ahmad Taufiq El Ezzam, 30, who entered the business in 2012.
"Since two or three years ago, we've been through this situation, where the e-cigarette issue suddenly blows up in the public eye.
"Many are worried the government will outlaw vaping, but we're confident it won't happen," he told The Malaysian Insider when met at his outlet in Section 7, Shah Alam.
He said he welcomed the government's official stand on vaping, as he wants his business to be recognised.
Taufiq operates from both his shop and on the Internet, where he sells vape-related products such as flavours and accessories.
The company spearheaded by his brother even sells flavours they created themselves, complete with their own brand name. Fruity and drink-based flavours were most popular, including one with the flavour of sirap bandung, a sweet drink of condensed milk and rose syrup.
Each bottle of flavouring comes in different quantities and is sold for between RM35 to RM100, he said.
Taufiq said that in the past, Malaysia had relied on vape products imported from the United States and the Philipines.
But now nearly 95% of flavours are produced here, with many local vape-related products exported to countries like Indonesia, he revealed.
Taufiq said his business has increased by 500% since last year, compared to when he first started out.
"This thing is seasonal. For example during Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations, sales peak... this is a good business," he said.
With the use of vape blooming, Taufiq also educates his customers on the "ethics" of smoking e-cigarettes.
"We explain to them that vaping is like smoking; you can't vape in areas where smoking is prohibited."
But he is worried that any action Putrajaya takes on vaping would affect his business.
"If the government bans vape, it will definitely have an impact and it's our worst-case scenario," he said.
There are an estimated one million people who use vape nationwide, with some 10% under the age of 18, according to Ibrahim in The Star's report.
In the US, a report by the Food and Drug Administration released in December 2014 found that American teenagers were smoking fewer cigarettes but more were vaping instead. – October 4, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/looming-decision-on-vaping-leaves-sellers-short-of-breath#sthash.ii6f6IJT.dpuf
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