Categories: Business NewsEconomy and BusinessGovernment PoliciesHealth and Wellness

Reevaluate Recent Policies Burdening Businesses

Dato' Fazli Nordin, Managing Director of API

Increase in minimum wage and tobacco display ban compliance cost will create huge operating expenditure

Kuala Lumpur, 23 October 2024 – Advokasi Perusahaan dan Industri (API), an advocacy group dedicated to protecting the growth of businesses and industries, today expressed its apprehension over recent Government’s policies that has created burden and cost on businesses.

API cited the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) being the most controversial regulation: the display ban on all tobacco and vape products in retail outlets, set to take effect by 1 April 2025.

Dato’ Fazli Nordin, Managing Director of API, said, “While the objective of protecting public health is commendable, the negative economic consequences of a display ban could far outweigh any assumed benefits.”

“The display ban will force expensive compliance burdens on retail businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Local retailers will have to bear the additional cost of installing closed cabinets or other storage solutions to comply with new regulations. The Federation of Sundry Goods Merchants Association of Malaysia has already voiced its concerns, sharing that the display ban could cost retailers up to RM300 million. This underscores the very real threat the display ban will have on local businesses, particularly SMEs.”

The administrative and logistical challenges associated with enforcing the display ban will increase operational costs, squeezing the margins of businesses already struggling with the current challenging economic landscape.

Recent Policies

API also worries how new regulations will disproportionately affect smaller retail outlets. Many businesses, especially in rural areas, almost certainly will not be able to afford the costly adjustments required to hide tobacco and vape products from public view.

API also warns that Act 852 could lead to job losses in retail, wholesale, and manufacturing sectors that depend on the sale of tobacco and vape products.

Dato’ Fazli emphasized, “As businesses struggle with compliance costs and competing illegal cigarette sales, we anticipate potential downsizing, closures, and a resulting economic downturn within these sectors.”

“Soon after the Ministry of Health (MOH) released new regulation on a display ban for tobacco and vape, the Prime Minister announced an increase of minimum wage from RM1,500 to RM1,700 also set to take effect in 2025. These decisions by the government take no consideration to SMEs and businesses in rural areas”.

Dato’ Fazli added that the increase in minimum wage will case businesses to face tremendous labour cost rises which is hard to mitigate for SMEs and businesses in rural areas.

“That is approximately 13% increase and the operating expenditure for businesses will increase. Businesses already have to deal with lower consumer sentiments, and rising cost of doing businesses after removal of diesel subsidies earlier this year. The additional operating expenditure is going to place a huge burden on the businesses especially the SMEs and businesses in rural areas.”

“While the recent policies made by the Government have good intentions, it fails to consider the on-ground impact onto businesses. The unintended economic consequences of these measures can put struggling small businesses at risk.”

“We urge the Government to reassess these policies to avoid burdening the businesses. A potential solution is to look at how subsidies can be provided to businesses or longer timeframe before implementation to soften their impact.”