Singapore Treats E-cigarettes As A Form Of Drug, And Wong Chun-ching Fires A Shot At E-cigarettes

On the evening of August 17th, Prime Minister Huang Juncai's remarks at the National Day mass gathering sent a chill through the entire electronic cigarette industry in Southeast Asia.
"Electronic cigarettes are new risks faced by the younger generation," the newly appointed prime minister bluntly stated. "We currently only consider electronic cigarettes as tobacco and impose fines at most; but this is no longer sufficient. They must be regarded as drugs."
During his nearly two-hour speech, Huang Juncai touched upon various issues such as economy, education, housing, and elderly care. However, the most notable point was his tough stance on the issue of electronic cigarettes.
According to the current laws of Singapore, the maximum fine for selling electronic cigarettes can be up to 10,000 Singapore dollars or 6 months in prison. But Huang Juncai believed that this was not enough - "Those who sell electronic cigarettes containing harmful components will face imprisonment and more severe penalties."
Here, "harmful components" specifically refer to etomidate.
According to data from the Singapore Ministry of Health, cases involving electronic cigarettes containing etomidate (referred to locally as "Kpod") have increased significantly recently, and more than 100 people have been investigated.
What worries the authorities even more is that in the past one and a half years, the Singapore Health Sciences Agency has seized electronic cigarette devices worth 41 million Singapore dollars, far exceeding the total amount from 2019 to 2023.
In his speech, Huang Juncai clearly outlined the implementation roadmap:
First, strengthen national law enforcement actions. It is no longer the case that the health department acts alone, but rather joint actions by multiple departments.

Second, focus on monitoring and preventing in universities and military camps. "In addition to conducting public education in various universities, we will also conduct advocacy to young people who are currently undergoing national service." These two places are precisely where young people are most concentrated.
Third, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Education take the lead. This means elevating the issue of electronic cigarettes to the level of national security and education, rather than just a public health issue.
Fourth, regulate and assist addicted individuals. This is in line with Singapore's consistent "strict laws and severe punishments + social support" dual-track approach.
Huang Juncai's tough stance contrasts sharply with other Southeast Asian countries.
Currently, Thailand and Brunei have fully banned electronic cigarettes following Singapore's lead; in some parts of Malaysia, electronic cigarettes have been banned, while Indonesia and the Philippines have chosen the route of legalization and taxation.
For the entire electronic cigarette industry in Southeast Asia, Singapore's policy direction has significant guiding significance. If the most developed country in this region regards electronic cigarettes as drugs, will other countries follow suit?