The sultan said this was in view of the rising figures of drug abuse in Pahang, especially among youths, adding that vape was a gateway of sorts to drug addiction.

“Vaping is bad for one’s health. I will speak to the government so that they would ban vapes as a whole,” he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.

Citing statistics from the National Anti-Drugs Agency, Al-Sultan Abdullah said Pahang had the fifth highest number of drug addicts among all states, with 11,750, and that 57% of them were aged between 15 and 30.

He expressed concern over the figures and warned that this could rise further if no preventive action was taken.

Johor has banned the sale of vape products, at the decree of the sultan, since 2016.