Johor vapers have been urged to remain calm in the face of a decree by Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Ismail Iskandar that the government shut down all vape shops in the state.
The Johor sultan called on the government to shut down vape shops using by-laws, but did not specify which by-laws.
“If the ruling is final then we at Johor Vape Crew respect this decree. All vapers are advised not to provoke.
“God willing, there will be a solution. Long live the sultan,” Johor Vape Crew said in a posting,
Jika ini keputusan muktamad , kami di johor vape crew menghormati keputusan tuanku . Pada para vapers agar tidak tunjuk sebarang provokasi..in shaa Allah , ada jalan penyelesaiannya..Daulat Tuanku
Posted by JOHOR VAPE CREW on Saturday, November 28, 2015
According to Johor Vape Crew – a popular Johor Bahru Facebook page for vape retailers and consumers in the southern state – there are 124 vape shops in Johor as at October.
The page has about 7,500 followers.
'Vape off'
Another popular Facebook page Johor Vapers Community posted a photo of The Star 's headline on the issue, with a caption: “Long live the sultan. The Johor sultan has decreed. Guys? Vape off!”
The page has about 3,600 followers.
Daulat tuanku..:) sultan johor sudah bertitah..Guyz?VAPE OFF!
Posted by Johor Vapers Community on Saturday, November 28, 2015
Industry players estimate that there are about a million vapers in Malaysia.
The industry is roughly worth RM2.8 billion and is growing.
Move estimates that 90 percent of traders and consumers are bumiputera, but Mevta believes the the non-bumiputera share has grown to 30 percent.
The Health Ministry is cracking down on vape retailers who sell vape juices – the liquid that is vapourised and inhaled – laced with nicotine.
While there is no official standard, most vape juices contain nicotine of up to 16 mg per 10ml bottle.
The Poisons Act states that only licensed professionals like pharmacists can sell liquid nicotine.
Health professionals also warn that unregulated dispensing of liquid nicotine could lead to poisoning, while vape juice contents may not be safe to inhale .
The vape industry is seeking a Vape Act to set industry standards and controls, and argues that the government can benefit through taxation instead of a ban.
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