ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor state government has reiterated its decision not to issue licences to vape traders, following the decree of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, back in 2016.
Johor's housing and local government committee chairman, Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor (pic), said all 16 local councils (PBT) in Johor remain firm in maintaining this directive.
“We are still holding on to the policy that the previous state government has introduced of not issuing any licence to vape traders,” he said.
He said this when met by reporters at the state assembly sitting at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Kota Iskandar here on Sunday (Nov 24).
On Jan 1, 2016, Johor officially became the first state in the country to ban vaping, with enforcement on users as well as traders selling them, following Sultan Ibrahim’s decree as the Johor Ruler.
Earlier, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad was reported saying that while there is no nationwide ban on electronic cigarettes or vapes, local authorities in Malaysia can cease issuing licences for their sale.
"Some states have already taken steps to stop issuing licences for the sale of such products at the local council level.
"Johor has taken the lead, and perhaps Pahang and other states may follow suit. However, the decision is ultimately up to the respective states," he added.
