22 hours Ago By AMALIA AZMI
KUALA LUMPUR: State governments have the authority to withhold business licences for vape sellers through their respective local authorities, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.He said this was because each state government has its own set of by-laws governing the sale of vapes or electronic cigarettes within its jurisdiction."We have seen that several states have taken the initiative not to issue licences to vape traders.
"This is within the rights of the state governments as they have their own provisions and policy," he said. Dzulkefly said this to reporters after the soft launch of the 2025 Malaysia International Healthcare (MIH) Megatrends event.For now, he said, the federal government was taking a phased regulatory approach through the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024, which includes control on vape products and will come into force on Oct 1.
"For now, we are in the advocacy phase, giving traders time to comply with the requirements under the new act," he said.Earlier, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said Selangor was willing to study the need to ban the sale of electronic cigarettes or vape in the state.He said the matter would be discussed with state Public Health and Environment Committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin and the state Health Department before any decision is made.
Yesterday, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay yesterday state governments have the authority to ban the sale of electronic cigarettes or vapes, which are increasingly linked to the misuse of new synthetic drugs.Ayob had said the situation was becoming increasingly concerning, with school students as young as 13 found using vapes containing drug-laced substances.© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd.
