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Govt seeks fairer returns for local media

Tighter vape rules may backfire

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia risks pushing vape users into the black market if it responds to the recent High Court ruling with overly strict restrictions on vaping and smoke-free nicotine products, a regional tobacco harm-reduction coalition warned yesterday. It said tighter controls could backfire as cigarettes remain widely available and continue to cause most tobacco-related harm. The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (Caphra) said Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines were at a critical policy crossroads as governments across the region weigh tougher measures on vaping and smoke-free nicotine products. In a statement yesterday, the coalition urged Southeast Asian governments not to adopt what it described as Australia’s failed nicotine-control approach, arguing that overly restrictive policies had fuelled illicit trade instead of reducing demand for nicotine products. Caphra executive coordinator Nancy Loucas said governments must recognise that demand for nicotine would not disappear simply because legal access was restricted. “When safer legal options are pushed out, illicit markets move in. Southeast Asia should see Australia as a warning, not a model.” Loucas said regulators should not treat cigarettes and lower-risk smoke-free alternatives under the same policy framework, stressing that tobacco-related disease remained overwhelmingly linked to combustible products. “Combustion remains the main driver of tobacco-related death and disease. Good policy puts the toughest restrictions on cigarettes while strictly regulating lower-risk alternatives for adults.” She added that poorly designed nicotine policies risked strengthening illegal markets instead of improving public health outcomes. “A bad nicotine policy does not end demand. It simply hands that demand to illegal markets.” The debate over Malaysia’s nicotine and vape regulations resurfaced after the High Court ruled on May 15 that the government had acted unlawfully in 2023 when it removed liquid and gel nicotine used in vape products from the Poisons List. Judge Datuk Aliza Sulaiman ruled that the exemption was irrational and carried out without proper consultation with the Poisons Board, which had unanimously opposed the move. The court also found that the decision was driven largely by economic considerations following Budget 2023 proposals to impose excise duty on nicotine-containing vape liquids and gels. Caphra said concerns involving youth vaping, weak enforcement and adulterated products were legitimate, but argued these issues required targeted regulation rather than blanket restrictions. The coalition also urged governments in the region to base policy decisions on local public health realities instead of adopting what it described as “prohibitionist models” from overseas. It said governments should avoid regulations that sideline adult consumers while creating space for illegal suppliers to thrive. Caphra Philippines representative Clarisse Virgino said former smokers who had switched to smoke-free alternatives should not be excluded from policy discussions. “Adults who have moved away from smoking should not be treated as an afterthought. If governments ignore consumers and over correct with bans, they risk strengthening illicit trade and protecting cigarettes from competition,” she said. Caphra said tobacco harm reduction should form part of a broader public health strategy aimed at reducing smoking-related diseases rather than condemning all nicotine use outright.

contribute significantly to platform traffic. Platform providers, he added, should consider a fairer framework for compensating local media organisations that generate substantial online reach and engagement. Meanwhile, Fahmi said the government has launched a RM5 million push to bankroll youth-driven creative content under the Madani Generational Catalyst Fund, in a bid to turn young digital creators into a stronger force in the creative economy. Applications open from June 1 to June 30. He said the fund is aimed at empowering young Malaysians while strengthening the country’s creative ecosystem through the production of telemovies, documentaries, short films, short documentaries and animation. “With an allocation of RM5 million, the ministry aims to produce content that reflects the aspirations of Malaysia Madani, with emphasis on strengthening identity, harmony, integrity and unity,” he said at the Madani Community Creative Youth Programme yesterday. “Today’s young generation holds immense power through their ideas, creativity and courage to create and influence society using technology such as smartphones and tablets.” The programme, implemented through National Film Development Corporation Malaysia, will reach nearly 16,000 youths nationwide as part of efforts to build a strong pipeline of creative talent for the industry. Fahmi acknowledged that the creative sector continues to face challenges, including funding constraints and project uncertainty, but said it has evolved into a more dynamic and globally competitive industry with strong institutional support. “Beyond entertainment, the creative industry also contributes to the national economy through the development of highly skilled talent and its success in attracting investments worth hundreds of millions of ringgit.” He added that the sector’s future depends on a new generation of creators who are competitive, highly-qualified and capable of elevating Malaysia’s creative output on the global stage. engaged in intermittent negotiations aimed at a longer-term settlement, with mediation efforts reportedly involving several regional players. Trump yesterday said an agreement with Iran had been “largely negotiated” and could be announced soon, adding that the emerging deal would include provisions linked to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. He also said he had discussions with several Gulf leaders, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, on what he described as a “memorandum of understanding pertaining to peace”. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said US and Iranian positions have been converging in recent days but warned that significant differences remain, accusing Washington of issuing “contradictory statements”. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad had played a facilitative role in the talks, describing recent engagement with Trump as “useful and productive”, and expressing hope to host the next round of negotiations. – By Harith Kamal

editors during recent industry engagements. He said while digital platforms benefit significantly from high-quality content produced by news organisations, many local media outlets remain unable to fully monetise their content or generate sustainable revenue. “Chief editors have complained that they are unable to monetise or generate income through these platforms. “I am prepared to hold discussions with TikTok to see what can be done to help the media in Malaysia,” he said after the closing ceremony of Festival Belia @ National Youth Day 2026 at Pavilion Bukit Jalil yesterday. Fahmi noted that official live streams by media organisations have attracted large audiences, in some cases ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of viewers, yet still do not qualify for monetisation features such as digital “gifts”. He said this must be addressed as the strong engagement is largely driven by the credibility and reach of established news brands, which

o Communications Ministry to engage TikTok over monetisation concerns

raised by editors and practitioners: Fahmi

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: The government will engage social media platforms, particularly TikTok, to address growing concerns over the monetisation of content involving local media organisations. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the discussions come after feedback from media practitioners and chief

Fahmi said although live streams by media organisations have attracted large audiences, they still do not qualify for monetisation features. – BERNAMAPIC

PM welcomes US-Iran talks on Hormuz peace PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has welcomed emerging diplomatic signals pointing to progress in negotiations between the United States and Iran, including discussions on a potential framework agreement that could pave the way for the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged all parties to move towards an “inclusive framework agreement” that would consolidate the current ceasefire, ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and safeguard the security interests of all nations in the region. Anwar said Malaysia remains ready to support multilateral efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability in West Asia.

In a Facebook statement, Anwar said he had received encouraging signs from leaders in West Asia that talks were moving on a “progressive trajectory”, adding that he viewed the developments with “earnest optimism”. He said Malaysia notes the constructive roles played by several regional actors in facilitating dialogue, alongside continued high-level engagement by Washington in pursuing a negotiated settlement. “Malaysia notes the constructive roles played by Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirate (UAE) in facilitating this process. “We also welcome United States president Donald Trump’s personal engagement in pursuing a negotiated outcome.”

The latest diplomatic signals come after months of heightened tensions across the Middle East involving the US, Iran and Israel, which had raised concerns over the risk of wider regional escalation and disruptions to global energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The crisis intensified earlier this year following military strikes by the US and Israel on Iranian targets, triggering retaliatory attacks by Iran on Israeli and US-aligned positions in the Gulf. A fragile ceasefire was reached in early April, easing immediate hostilities but leaving key disputes unresolved, particularly over Iran’s nuclear programme, regional security arrangements and maritime stability in the Gulf. Since then, Washington and Tehran have