Latest news with #Mansor
Daily Express
22-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Kedah vape traders told to cease operations by December
Published on: Thursday, May 22, 2025 Published on: Thu, May 22, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: The state government said seven months is enough time for retailers to shift to other businesses. PETALING JAYA: Vape retailers in Kedah have been given until December to cease operations following the state-wide ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes. State housing, local government and health committee chairman Mansor Zakaria said the state government would not extend the grace period as seven months was enough time for retailers to shift to other businesses. In a Berita Harian report, Mansor said full enforcement would begin early next year, and that the authorities would not hesitate to seize vape products. 'Most business licences will expire this December, and a small number will expire in January and February next year. If they (the operators) remain stubborn and defy the order, we will issue compounds and confiscate their goods,' he said. 'Vape traders are expected to switch to other businesses after this. Seven months is a reasonable amount of time,' he said, adding that the decision was reached in a meeting with all local authorities in Kedah this week. Mansor also called on the health ministry to revoke all licences for the manufacture and sale of vape at the federal level. Advertisement 'The health ministry is always reminding the public of the harmful effects of vape, so the federal government needs to take firm action and ban its sale,' he said. Last week, Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor said the state government planned to stop the sale of vape and e-cigarettes in Kedah by next year. He said the move was part of the state government's policy to tackle the growing abuse of synthetic drugs, including among school students. Sanusi also said that vape products were increasingly being misused through the mixing of illegal substances into vape liquids before sale. Yesterday, Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Aminuddin Harun said the state was considering a ban on the sale of vape or electronic cigarettes in the state amid rising concern over their impact on public health, especially among the youth. Terengganu and Perlis will ban the sale of vape products from Aug 1, joining Johor and Kelantan which implemented bans in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Selangor and Penang are still weighing a blanket ban. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Kedah sticks to December deadline for vape ban
ALOR STAR: The December deadline for vape retailers in Kedah to cease operations will remain in force, a senior government official said today, ruling out any extension to the state's blanket ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes. The state Housing, Local Government and Health Committee chairman, Mansor Zakaria said the seven-month grace period from this month is sufficient for the traders to shift to other businesses. "We are giving them until December. They have seven months from now to shift to other businesses. They have sufficient time to do that," he told the New Straits Times when contacted. Mansor said the decision was made during a meeting with all local authorities in the state earlier this week. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor had previously said the state government would not renew any business licences for vape retailers due to expire this year, as part of a stricter policy aimed at curbing the growing threat of synthetic drug abuse. The announcement prompted an outcry from vape retailers in Kedah, who expressed disappointment at the state government's decision to group legitimate businesses with those involved in illicit substances. They also appealed for more time to comply with the blanket ban and transition into alternative forms of business. Mansor said enforcement would commence early next year to seize vape products being sold at the premises. "The majority of business licences for the premises in question will expire by this December, with only a few set to expire in January and February next year. "If they fail to comply with the ban, we will launch an operation to issue compounds and seize the products," he warned. Several Malaysian states are moving to tighten restrictions on vape sales. Terengganu and Perlis have announced statewide bans effective from Aug 1, aimed at curbing vape use among youths. Johor and Kelantan have had similar bans in place since 2016.
The Star
29-04-2025
- Health
- The Star
Student with ILI from Yan camp still warded but in stable condition
ALOR SETAR: A 14-year-old student diagnosed with influenza-like illness (ILI) is still warded at Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital here but is in stable condition. Kedah health committee chairman Mansor Zakaria said the boy was warded after the Kuala Muda district health office detected ILI infection among 28 students at a junior college in Merbok on April 23. "He is recuperating in hospital and is in stable condition," he said on Tuesday (April 29). The teenager suffered fever and body aches since after attending a two-day programme at a camp in Yan. Mansor said a driver from the college exhibited the same symptoms but had since been discharged. He said the Health Ministry had conducted thorough checks at the camp, including on its water supply, food, river and sleeping areas, and no major health violations were found. He said the camp would remain closed to prevent any virus from spreading adding there were no reports of infection in students from other schools. The Health Ministry, in a statement on Monday (April 28), confirmed that the 28 students had ILI and were among 158 students possibly exposed to the infection. Six tested positive for Influenza A and were discharged after receiving treatment while the remaining 22 students received outpatient treatment.
Straits Times
27-04-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Unidentified infectious disease cluster found in Kedah, Malaysia
ALOR SETAR - An unidentified infectious disease cluster has formed among 39 school students and staff in Yan, a district in Kedah, Malaysia. All health authorities in Kedah are on alert for patients showing symptoms of a cold, fever, cough, blisters, vomiting, diarrhoea, and red rashes. Health authorities have been cautioned to watch for patients with a history of visiting, staying overnight, or participating in activities at a private training camp - Palas Camp - in Yan on or after April 3. Kedah health committee chairman Mansor Zakaria stressed the importance of investigating the infectious disease cluster linked to Palas Camp. 'All medical officers must immediately notify the Kedah Health Department if patients display any of the mentioned criteria. 'The Kedah Health Department confirms an unidentified infectious disease involving students and staff of a secondary school from the Kuala Muda district,' he said. The department received the notification of the cases on April 24. 'Following the notification, the Kuala Muda and Yan District Health offices conducted an immediate investigation and confirmed that the students had attended a training camp in the Yan district. 'The Kuala Muda District Health office detected 39 people (5.11 per cent) with symptoms of fever, cough, and rashes out of the 763 students and staff at the school. 'The cases currently involve 14-year-old students and staff. All the patients are receiving treatment at Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital and are in stable condition,' he said. Mr Mansor said inspections and risk assessments have been carried out at the involved locations, and restrictions have been placed there. 'We request the public not to speculate, which could cause panic and disrupt the investigation. 'I urge everyone to take preventive measures and maintain cleanliness in their residential and recreational areas to prevent the spread of any infectious disease,' he said. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Sun
27-04-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Unidentified illness strikes 39 people after training camp in Yan
PETALING JAYA: An outbreak of an unidentified infectious disease has affected 39 individuals, primarily Form Four students and staff members from a Kuala Muda secondary school following their participation in a training camp in Yan, Kedah. According to a report by the New Straits Times, Housing, Local Government and Health Committee chairman Mansor Zakaria said those affected are exhibiting symptoms including fever, cough, and rash. The outbreak occurred among participants of a private training program that hosted a total of 763 students and staff members from the school. The affected individuals are currently receiving medical attention at Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital, in Sungai Petani where their condition is described as stable, Mansor stated. According to the report, Mansor plans to conduct a site visit to the training camp facility soon, accompanied by the Yan district officer, to investigate the situation further. Health authorities have yet to determine the specific pathogen responsible for the illness as investigations continue.
