T’ganu next to outlaw vaping

KUALA TERENGGANU: Tereng­ganu will ban the sale and smoking of vape and electronic-cigarettes in the state from tomorrow in accor­dance with the State Fatwa Council decision.

State secretary Datuk Osman Muda in announcing this said the decision came following the state government’s agreement with the Fatwa Council’s decision to haram (forbid) vaping and the usage of e-cigarettes during a meeting on Dec 29.

He said the state government and local authorities would meet with the vape traders on Jan 3 to explain the ban and other matters.

Recently, Johor and Kelantan announced a ban on vape outlets in the states also effective tomorrow.

Kelantan is the second state after Johor to ban the sale of vape pro­ducts owing to its bad influence and health issues.

“A dialogue with vape traders will be held to find a solution on the matter so that vape traders are not victimised,” said Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman.

He also noted that there were many vape traders who were carrying out their business illegally, without a licence.

The state fatwa council in a statement said its members had unanimously agreed to the ban at the Dec 29 meeting.

It said the state Mufti Department was also saddened that school children and women were also into vaping.

Prior to the Terengganu Fatwa Council’s edict, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) had in August banned va­ping. Penang Mufti Department had also issued a similar edict.

The president of Terengganu Malay Vape Traders (PPVMT) Muhd Kamaruzaman Mahmud said the ban would force majority of the traders to go underground, or to sell it online or via direct selling without having shops.