Kuala Lampur, June 10 -- The recent calls for a nationwide vape ban have been hogging the headlines. Just recently, Segamat MP R. Yuneswaran urged the Federal government to impose a blanket ban, citing rising healthcare costs and increasing youth vaping rates. Meanwhile, states such as Selangor, Kelantan, Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu have already moved ahead with bans of their own or are debating similar measures.

These moves are driven by understandable public health concerns. No one is questioning the motivations behind such calls. After all, nothing is more important than public health. However, are we approaching this issue in a consistent and coherent way?

If we are banning vape to protect public health, why are cigarettes...