Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Cabinet had decided that vaping will not be banned.

"Good news for vapers, vaper brewers and vape businesses. The Cabinet today has decided not to ban the usage of vape," he wrote on his Facebook today.

The Health Ministry was earlier considering a ban on vaping but had said it was too early to decide on the matter.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya had said that a new law to regulate the use of tobacco products is being drafted by the Health Ministry.

He said the new law will take into account the suitable control on the use of vape and the act of vaping which is harmful to human health.

He said the existing laws, namely the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations (Amendment) 2011 under the Food Act 1983 was seen as not so effective, especially in terms of fines imposed on offenders, to control the use of vape and other tobacco products, including cigarettes.

In August, the National Fatwa Council has ruled that smoking e-cigarettes is forbidden in Islam (haram).

Its chairman Profesor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr. Abd. Shukor Husin said e-cigarettes are dangerous, wasteful and harmful to health.

READ: Temporarily stop e-cigarettes and shisha smoking, says Dr Subramaniam

He said the Islamic edicts or fatwa was issued based on the council’s stand on shisha smoking.

“We have discussed on cigarettes and shisha and we can equate them with vape. We have decided and there is no problem in this matter,” he said.