KOTA BAHARU, Dec 17 – The Kelantan state government will be issuing a 14-day notice to all vape or electronic cigarette traders to vacate their premises starting on yesterday. State Local Government, Housing, Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Fattah Mahmood said the action was in line with the decision of the state government in not issuing any form of licences to sell the product in the state.
He said they will take action including confiscating devices if traders were defiance and continue to sell such products after January 1. He told this to the reporters after chairing a meeting on sales of vaping products at Kota Darul Naim Complex here on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Kelantan branch Malay Vape Traders Association (PPVM) president Mohd Azlee Che Mohd Zaid expected more than 350 vape traders in the state would lose about RM50 million if their premises were shut down after a ban on the product become effective next year.
“We hope the state government will give more time to traders to sell off their vaping devices and favoured liquid as the 14-day period is too short. This is because the capital invested to open a shop exceeds RM200,000. Traders also need time to recoup their capital and to find other business opportunities,” he told reporters before handing over a memorandum on the matter to Abdul Fatah at Kota Darul Naim Complex.
