PETALING JAYA: Johor and Kelantan have completely banned the sale of vape products while Kedah will stop issuing new licences for vape shops.
Terengganu and Perlis will jump on the bandwagon to ban the sale of vape products on Aug 1.
Johor housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the vape ban enforced nine years ago following the decree of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, was still in force statewide across all 16 local councils.
“The policies regarding the sale of vape and e-cigarette products, introduced by the previous state government still stand,” he said.
Mohd Jafni said there were ongoing efforts to monitor the sale of prohibited products, noting that some premises were selling vape products in secret.
“Last year, we carried out several operations to weed out such shops. We will also review current enforcement efforts regarding the sale of vape products,” he added.
Johor health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said besides local council enforcement efforts, the Health Department too had been issuing summonses to people using electronic cigarettes in no-smoking areas.
Sarawak Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang said the state may introduce a ban on vaping but no formal decision has been made yet.
“We haven’t made that decision yet. I believe that in time, we will follow suit. At present, no such policy is in place,” he said.
Perak health committee chairman A. Sivanesan said the state has yet to make a decision on banning the sale of vape products.
He said the Perak health director would submit a paper on the matter and would brief the state executive council on it.
“We have until October to discuss whether to ban the sale of vape items or increase the age range of vape users,” he added.
In Melaka, the state government is studying the prospect of imposing a ban on vaping following growing concerns over its impact on public health, particularly among the younger generation.
Melaka health, human resources and unity committee chairman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem said the proposal to prohibit the sale and use of vape products must be weighed responsibly, taking into consideration implications on existing traders who had obtained business approvals from local authorities.
Penang health committee chairman Daniel Gooi said the state would look into controlling and putting in place enforcement measures to curb the sale of vape products to youths and children.
“Talking about the sale of vape products to youth and children, the Health Ministry will enforce the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which aims to restrict access to these products, particularly for minors, effective Oct 1.
“There is still a grace period before Oct 1. We will look into the progress of the issue at the federal level before taking further action,” he said, adding that a total ban would drive up the sale of illicit vapes and e-cigarettes.
Kedah health committee chairman Mansor Zakaria said the state would look into controlling the sale of vape first before introducing a ban.
“We will do it in stages by controlling sales, weeding out illegal sales and restricting the issuance of new licences, before looking into whether to impose a total ban two or three years down the road.
“For now, we only issue licences to those who are selling vape products, including various other products in their premises such as convenience stores.
“No licences will be issued to traders who want to set up a vape product sales centre,” said Mansor.
