There is no attempt by Health Ministry staff to sabotage the vape industry by creating a monopoly on the sale of e-cigarettes, Deputy Health Minister Hilmi Yahaya said today.

He was responding to Small and Medium Enterprises Traders Association (Ikhlas) president Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah, who alleged there is a plan to monopolise the industry by imposing restrictions so that only approved companies can participate.

Hilmi said his ministry only governed the use of tobacco and nicotine under the Food Act and Poisons Act respectively.

"We do not go beyond the existing law, which controls nicotine use in cigarettes and vaping equipment," he said when met at the Parliament lobby.

Ridzuan also claimed that two factories that would control the local vape industry were being built, one in Johor and the other in Shah Alam.

He then called for Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam to explain the matter and the group vowed to lodge report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commisson (MACC).

Hilmi said he was not aware of this the vape factories.

"I don't know. Is that so? I do not have the official report so I cannot comment," he said.

Ridzuan has in the past warned the government against cracking down on the vape industry, claiming it would cost the ruling BN votes in the next election.

He has also threatened to file court injunctions against the Kelantan and Johor authorities to stop their enforcement against vape traders.