He said the states are empowered by local regulations to control the sale of such devices within their jurisdictions. “We’ve seen several states withholding licences from vape traders. This is within their rights. They have the legal space to act based on local policies and by-laws,” he said.

Dzulkefly’s comments were in response to a statement by deputy inspector-general of police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, who recently said state governments could ban the sale of e-cigarettes which are increasingly linked to synthetic drug abuse.

Earlier today, Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari said the state government is prepared to study the need to ban the sale of e-cigarettes. “We can implement it but I believe it needs to be discussed with the relevant parties first,” he said.

Johor is the only state in which the sale of vapes is banned.

Dzulkefly said at the federal level, the sale of vape products is governed under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act (Act 852) which will be fully enforced on Oct 1. Traders have been given time to comply with the regulations since it was enforced in phases last October.