Following Sultan of Johor's order, the state government has officially banned all sale of vape products from Jan 1 next year.
According to The Star , the ban, which includes vape equipment and liquids, was decided during the state executive council (exco) meeting today.
State housing and local government executive committee chairperson Abdul Latif Bandi said all local councils statewide would be given directives on the matter.
"There will be no more selling of flavour liquids and mods in Johor any more.
"From the local councils record, there are 120 registered vape premises in Johor and we advise them to close their shop before Jan 2 as we will take action against stubborn sellers," he said.
Earlier it was reported that all officers and staff in the Johor palace department are prohibited from using vape in the office and palace compound with immediate effect.
According to Berita Harian report, the Johor Council of Royal Court president Abdul Rahim Ramli confirmed the order, signed by the Comptroller of the Johor Royal Household, Brigadier-General Ali Musa. It was issued on Nov 30.
He said the Sultan of Johor, who wanted the order to take immediate effect, cannot wait till Jan 1.
"To express our utmost gratitude to the ruler, we at the Johor palace department will set an example to other agencies to implement this."
There should be no excuses
The ruler, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, has reportedly banned vape in Johor and has given outlets one month to end the business.
The monarch in an interview with The Star on Sunday was reported saying that there should be no excuses and that the matter should not be politicised or turned into a racial issue.
“I want the outlets to close down by Jan 1, 2016, and I do not want to hear any excuses.
“This is a question of health and its effects on young people. It has nothing to do with businesses and for sure, it has nothing to do with race.
“I am greatly disappointed that some people are bringing up racial and political threats.”
In another development, Bernama reports that the Kelantan government will be making a decision on the sale of vape (e-cigarette) in the state on Dec 16.
State local government, housing, health and environment committee chairperson Abdul Fattah Mahmood said this was due to the similarities of vape with shisha smoking, which has been banned in Kelantan since several years ago.
“Vape is merely an improvement on shisha. The state government has decided not to issue any licence to sell vape due to negative reports until we make a final decision on Dec 16,” he told reporters after the state executive council meeting in Kota Baru today.
He said the local authorities had been directed to issue letters to vape entrepreneurs instructing them to take down signboards and banners at their shops.
