NUSAJAYA: The issue concerning the ban on e-cigarettes or vape may be brought up at the weekly state exco meeting this Wednesday.

State Secretary Datuk Ismail Karim said during a short break of the state assembly sitting in Kota Iskandar here today that it is up to the State Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat to raise the issue.

Asked if one month would be sufficient to close down all shops selling vape, Ismail replied in the affirmative.

“There aren’t any licences issued for sales of e-cigarettes,” Ismail said.

Meanwhile Jimmy Phua (PKR- Bukit Batu) commended Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s call to ban vaping.

“It is a health concern, and many young women undergraduates in institutes have taken to vaping.

“This is a cause for concern concerning youths, and it is not a racial issue as some have made it out to be,” he said.

He called on the state government to act immediately to stop vaping from taking root in Johor.

Phua, who is Johor PKR deputy chairman, was speaking to reporters during a break of the state assembly sitting.-nst