Group aims to collect one million signatures to protest vape ban

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 ― A traders group has begun a nationwide campaign to collect one million signatures to protest against state governments planning to ban vape products.

Utusan Malaysia quoted Pertubuhan Ikatan Usahawan Kecil dan Sederhana Malaysia (Ikhlas) president Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah as saying any move to prohibit vaping was unfair as the federal government had already decided that it would not be banned.

“Recently we have gotten a response from the prime minister's office that vaping has not been banned and Ikhlas thanks the prime minister for this.

“But what is regretted is that Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam is still seen as wanting to wage war (against vaping) and this is not in line with the federal government's policies,” he said.

He said the campaign, titled “one million youths against ban on vaping” will start in Segamat, Johor, before heading over to other states.

“We chose Segamat because it is Subramaniam's constituency, the signatures obtained there can then be used to measure how much he has lost support,” Mohd Ridzuan added.

The Johor government has confirmed it will prohibit the sale of vape products starting January 1, after the state ruler called for such outlets to be closed down.

News reports quoted Johor state housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Abdul Latiff Bandi as saying that traders who sold electronic cigarettes after January 1 would face a fine of up to RM2,000 and risk having their licenses revoked and goods confiscated.

Local daily The Star reported Abdul Latiff as saying that the state government will enact a new by-law to prohibit the sale of vape products as vape outlets are currently operating under convenience store licenses.

In an interview with The Star published last week, Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar said he wanted vape outlets to be shuttered by January 1 over health concerns.

The Health Ministry has commended the Johor sultan’s call to ban vape outlets, but did not say if Putrajaya will move to ban vaping.

The federal government has yet to decide on whether it will ban or regulate vaping, with ministers like Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob supporting the industry while the Health Ministry initially raided several vape stores.