KOTA BHARU: The Kelantan government plans to enact a law that prohibits the use of electronic cigarettes (vapes) among the state's young, aged 17 and below.

State Local Government, Housing and Health Committee chairman, Dr Izani Husin said the proposed ban would specifically apply to those born on Jan 1, 2005 and thereafter.

However, he said, the matter was still at the proposal stage and the state government would be tabling it via a working paper at the coming Parliament sitting.

"Yesterday, the Ministry of Health had tabled a working paper on the effects of smoking cigarettes and vaping.

"There are those among the public who think that electronic cigarettes are not dangerous to health and that the side effects are milder than smoking the normal cigarettes but the fact is, the nicotine content of vapes are more dangerous," he told reporters after attending a State Executive Council meeting, here, today.


Dr Izani said the state government was very concerned and worried about the increasingly rampant use of vapes, especially among women and primary schoolchildren.

"We've found out that some of the vape users are as young as 10 years old, while its use among women is increasing. Therefore, I urge that parents monitor their children towards preventing them from using vapes.

"In Kelantan, we (state government) do not issue licences for the electronic cigarette business while we also do not have the power to prevent the people from vaping as those selling vapes in the market, do so without a licence or via online," he added.

On another development, Dr Izani urged the people of Kelantan to be wise by adhering to the standard operating procedures (SOP) in the new normal, especially upon the country entering the transition to the COVID-19 endemic phase.

"We urge that those with symptoms like a sore throat, fever and so on to not go to public places or attend any family gatherings. The state government is worried that COVID-19 daily cases could spike if the people flout the SOP set," he said.

-- BERNAMA