The Negeri Sembilan government announced that vape traders are allowed to sell vape products or e-cigarettes in the state.
However, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said that Muslims are still prohibited from vaping or smoking e-cigarettes as the national fatwa council declared that vaping is “haram” (forbidden).
Mohammad told reporters that the decision was made after a discussion in the state weekly exco meeting today.
He said:
On the basis of religion, anything that has negative impact on health is not allowed, thus, Muslims should not vape.
“But we will not touch the sale of vaping products, business is a separate thing,” he added.
It was understood that during the meeting, the state mufti also expressed their views on vaping from both the health and religious aspects. Mohamad said that the fatwa or guidelines should not affect non-Muslims as they were only for Muslims.
He said:
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It is up to Muslims to be good Muslims or not, those who observe the religion will follow.
He also said that the state government has yet to decide any penalty or fine amount for Muslims who did not abide to the fatwa, but they will soon issue guidelines on where vaping is allowed.
In addition to that, Mohammad said that all races would be given licenses to run vape stores. “Business is a separate thing, do not cloud your minds,” he explained.
Johor was the first state to announce a ban on all sale of vape products. Several other states then followed suit including Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Malacca. The Selangor government will also announce its decision on 13th January.
Vaping is also officially banned at 20 public universities all government schools. It is unclear whether the Malaysian Health Ministry will eventually ban vape/vaping altogether, but it was previously reported that they were looking to implement an excise tax on e-cigarettes and vapes.
Source: The Malaysian Insider.
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