This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on January 5, 2016.

IPOH: Sales of vape products in Perak have dropped between 50% and 80%, although the state has yet to implement a ban on e-cigarettes, unlike five other states which have announced a ban.

Several outlets have also closed down, while the remaining operators are hoping for the health ministry to issue a final say on the regulation.

K Vikneshvaran, 25, who runs Vape Kartel in Silibin here, said although the authorities had yet to crack down on the business, he had lost more than 50% of customers spooked by media reports on the dangers of vaping.

“People are unsure whether the device is safe,” said Vikneshvaran.

Meor Sukri Meor Osman, 39, who started Yop Vapor in Meru here five years ago, said more conclusive studies should be conducted on vaping.

I think the health ministry should conduct its own research to see if vaping is truly more dangerous because I would not want to advocate a harmful product.”

Vikneshvaran, too, said he would open a second outlet in Chemor, Perak, once the authorities decide on controls.

Pro-vape and e-cigarette users said part of the reason vaping had earned a bad reputation was because of some users flouting etiquette by ignoring non-smoking signs.

“Users should observe non-smoking signs as a consideration to others around them,” said R Karthik, 25.

To date, Terengganu, Penang, Kedah, Johor and Kelantan have banned vaping.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir was reported as saying that the state would refrain from setting its own course on the issue and would follow whatever guidelines recommended by the health ministry.

State health department director Datuk Dr Juita Ghazalie said five vape outlets had been raided by the department’s pharmaceutical unit, and 148 items worth RM16,440, believed to be liquids containing nicotine, were seized. — The Malaysian Insider