IPOH: The Perak government plans to ban the sale of electronic cigarettes and vapes in October throughout the state.
According to state human resources, health, Indian community affairs and national integration committee chairman A. Sivanesan, a working paper on the matter is being drafted by the Perak Health Department.
“We have instructed the department, led by its director Dr Feisul Idzwan Mustapha, to ensure that this working paper be completed as soon as possible.
“The working paper will also be brought to the state executive council to decide on its enforcement, which I’m targeting around October,” he said after launching the Orthopaedic Symposium Programme: Latest Developments and Best Practices in the Orthopaedic Field, Bernama reported.
The event was organised by the Perak Community Specialist Hospital here yesterday.
On June 4, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the state government was examining comprehensively the need to ban the sale of electronic cigarettes in Perak.
He said the matter had been raised in the state executive council but there were several matters that needed to be refined.
Sivanesan said that although he admitted the action would cause uneasiness among vape traders, it would benefit the people, especially in terms of health.
“We are ready (for complaints) but what is good for the people, we will continue,” he added.
On the event, Sivanesan said that more than 90 individuals consisting of orthopaedic specialists from all over the country participated in the programme.
He said it should be emulated by other private hospitals in Perak because it aims to provide knowledge and assist in disseminating the latest technology.