Starting August 2, 2025, the state of Perlis will officially ban the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes, aligning its stance with a religious edict that categorizes vaping as haram (forbidden) under Islamic law. The announcement was made by Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli following a state executive council meeting on May 14.
The decision follows a 2022 declaration by the Perlis State Fatwa Committee, which ruled that vaping is impermissible in Islam. In light of this religious directive, the state government has chosen to move forward with regulatory action, becoming the second Malaysian state to do so after Terengganu. Similar to Perlis, Terengganu plans to halt the issuance of licenses to vendors selling vaping products beginning in the same month.
In preparation for the ban, local authorities in Perlis have been instructed to begin monitoring business premises to ensure compliance. Enforcement efforts are expected to intensify after the August 1 cutoff date. Business owners currently engaged in the sale of vape products have been advised to begin transitioning to other lines of trade, as licenses linked to the sale of these items will no longer be valid.
While acknowledging the practical challenge of eradicating vaping entirely, the state government maintains that cutting off access to vape sales is a critical step in protecting the health and well-being of its citizens, particularly the younger demographic. Authorities believe that by removing the availability of such products, fewer young people will be drawn into the habit.
The move reflects a growing concern over the rise in vape usage among youths in Malaysia and represents a blend of public health policy and religious guidance. The state's approach underscores a broader effort to align local governance with religious values, especially when it concerns behaviors seen as potentially harmful.
As the August deadline approaches, affected businesses are expected to seek alternatives, while enforcement teams ramp up efforts to ensure the policy is effectively implemented. The outcome in Perlis may serve as a precedent for other states considering similar bans in the near future.
Information Source: WOB
Kamran is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact creator@newswav.com.