Kota Kinabalu: Some 80 vape traders in Sabah are appealing to the State Government to look into all aspects, including regulating the sale and use of vape in Sabah, instead of deciding to ban vape totally as it will mean huge losses to them.Its spokesman Shah Fareed bin Datuk Awang Sham said they are actually in need of proper guidelines and regulations to comply and it would not be a problem to adhere to all these.
"We are really hoping that the State Government would consider all factors including giving us a chance to voice out and hear our suggestions before deciding on the sale and use of vape following the issuance of a Sabah Fatwa (Islamic decree) on vape recently that made it 'haram' (forbidden) for Muslims.
"All vape operators and the vape liquid brewers would have no problem adhering to government rules if the industry is regulated in Sabah as we are all in need of proper guidelines.
"Hence, we are recommending that a special panel be set up comprising representatives of the State Government and outsiders to seriously study the impact and effect of vaping to users and public health," he said.
Shah Fareed said this in a press conference which was attended by over 50 vape traders, Friday night.
On Jan 21, it was reported that the Sabah Fatwa Committee decreed that the use of shisha and electronic cigarettes or vape among Muslims in the State was illegal (haram) as it was hazardous to one's health. The State Cabinet is supposed to meet on the issue.
Shah Fareed said they are not against the Sabah Fatwa but believed that the prohibition should be done fairly.
"I, being a Muslim, am fully aware of the State Fatwa. But the traders including me are hoping that the decision should be fair because even smoking cigarettes that can cause cancer and death has not had any Fatwa against it in Sabah.
"Our question is why is there no official health report from the Health Ministry on the effect and impact of vape on the users' health and also why are we as vape traders yet to be given such report or circular.
"If the sale and use of vape were banned, then we believe that it would be only fair that cigarettes and other items proven to be hazardous to public health also be banned," he said.
Although the Sabah fatwa is only applicable to Muslims, Shah Fareed said all traders irrespective of their faith would be affected and they would bear big losses as the cost and business capital to open up a vape shop is about RM80,000 on average.
He said many of the vape traders in Sabah are Bumiputera aged below 40 who have been getting bank loans and sold their properties and land to come up with the business capital to set up the businesses.
Even before the Sabah Fatwa was issued recently, he said the business of vape traders in Sabah was directly affected by a drop of 90 per cent when a Fatwa to ban vape was issued in Kuala Lumpur.
Shah Fareed said there is a need for the State authorities to find out or do a study on whether vape is better than smoking cigarettes or otherwise.
"I was a smoker before … but after I switched to vaping, it has reduced my smoking habit.
"In fact, vaping helps smokers to reduce smoking when smoking is evidently harmful to the smokers and public.
"In the United Kingdom, the government allowed vaping as an alternate measure for the people to quit smoking.
Why can't we do this in Malaysia when it has been proven beneficial to others in a country like UK," he said.
Shah Fareed said the vape traders are willing to meet up with the State Government and to provide facts on vaping for them to consider before deciding on banning the sale and use of vape in Sabah.
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