State govt to obtain views from traders before enforcement date

MALACCA: The state government has decided to ban the sale and use of vape and electronic cigarettes in keeping with the edict of the National Fatwa Council.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron said the effective date of the prohibition would be announced soon.

He said the meeting of the state executive council tomorrow would discuss the matter after getting feedback from the Housing, Local Government and Environment Committee chaired by Datuk Ismail Othman.

“The state government has to obtain the views of vape traders in the state before deciding on the enforcement date,” he told reporters after visiting SK Sungai Udang on the first of the new school year yesterday.

Idris said the state government would assist vape traders to switch to other businesses in view of the ban.

The Malacca Historic City Council had issued more than 20 business licences to vape traders around the state.

In Johor, all the 120 vape outlets in the state have closed following a royal decree prohibiting its sale effective last Friday.

Johor police chief Datuk Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said the state narcotics CID chief had confirmed the closure of the outlets.

“Although all the premises have closed, the police will continue with their monitoring to ensure there is no sale of vape, including online,” he told reporters after the monthly assembly.

The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, had issued a decree prohibiting the sale of vape in the state from Jan 1.

In Terengganu, vape traders will have six months to close their business while those in Kelantan have been given a grace period of one month.