Latest news with #SanusiNor
Free Malaysia Today
22-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Kedah vape traders told to cease operations by December
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. '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.
Free Malaysia Today
14-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Nik Nazmi rejects Sanusi's claim Putrajaya stalling rare earth SOPs
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (left) said Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor was present during his ministry's briefing with state governments on the rare earth SOPs. PETALING JAYA : Natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has dismissed Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor's claim that Putrajaya is deliberately delaying the release of SOPs for the mining of rare earth elements (REE) in states. Nik Nazmi said Sanusi himself had attended a meeting at the ministry when the matter was raised. 'That's not true (Sanusi's claim). The SOPs were issued a long time ago to all states,' he told FMT. 'He (Sanusi) was present at the meeting in the ministry.' Asked when state governments could begin exploring REE deposits , Nik Nazmi said: 'They can already start.' It was reported earlier today that Sanusi had claimed Kedah was still waiting for the 'official SOPs', and implied that the delay may be due to REE deposits being concentrated in Perikatan Nasional-governed states like Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu. He alleged that the government feared enriching the four PN-led states. In 2023, it was reported that the minerals and geosciences department found 16.1 million tonnes of non-radioactive REE in Malaysia with a market value of RM809.6 billion. The department had identified 29 areas with strategic potential for REE in Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Sarawak, Selangor and Terengganu.
Free Malaysia Today
14-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
No outright ban, Kedah to halt renewal of permits for vape traders
Earlier today, the Perlis government announced it will join Johor, Kelantan and Terengganu in imposing a full ban on the sale of vape. (EPA Images pic) PETALING JAYA : The Kedah government has decided to stop allowing the renewal of business permits for vape traders once their licences expire. Menteri besar Sanusi Nor said the state government planned to stop the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes in Kedah by next year, as part of efforts to curb drug abuse following the revelation that there are drug-laced vapes. Sanusi said the state government did not want to implement an outright ban like other states for fear of being sued, Utusan Malaysia reported. He cited the suit brought by three companies over the Kedah government's decision not to issue or renew the licences for gaming premises. The Alor Setar High Court had ruled that the state government's decision was unconstitutional and ordered the plaintiffs to be compensated for their losses from the ban. 'Yesterday, the council on combating drugs was briefed on the current scenario of drug abuse. The latest development is the abuse of drugs using vapes,' Sanusi was quoted as saying. Earlier today, the Perlis government announced that it would ban the sale of vapes from Aug 1, with fewer than 50 businesses expected to be affected. Perlis joins Johor, Kelantan and Terengganu in imposing a full ban on vape sales. Other states like Melaka and Selangor are considering stricter controls because of the rise in vape use among youths. Last month, deputy inspector-general of police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay proposed that more states ban the sale of electronic cigarettes and vape products. Ayob cited growing concerns over synthetic drug abuse through vape devices, saying fentanyl had even been detected in vape liquids, with effects 100 times stronger and more dangerous than morphine.
Free Malaysia Today
14-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Govt fears enriching PN states, Sanusi claims on rare earth SOP delay
Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor said rare earths would present a new and major source of revenue for states once guidelines for mining were released. PETALING JAYA : Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor claims the government is dilly-dallying on releasing SOPs for the mining of rare earth elements (REE) for fear of enriching the four Perikatan Nasional-led states. Sanusi said the states of Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis have rich deposits of rare earths, and their mining would present a new and major source of revenue once the guidelines were released. 'That's why it's said that these people (the federal authorities) do not dare to issue the SOPs, because once the SOPs are out, these states will become rich. 'I believe that's the reason why the SOPs aren't out yet, because there's a lot of REE in the (PN-led states),' the PAS leader was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia. Yesterday, Sanusi reportedly said Kedah was still waiting for the natural resources and environmental sustainability ministry's official SOPs for REE mining. In 2023, it was reported that the minerals and geosciences department found 16.1 million tonnes of non-radioactive REE in Malaysia with a market value of RM809.6 billion. The department had identified 29 areas with strategic potential for REE in Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Sarawak, Selangor and Terengganu. Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Azam Baki later urged for the establishment of SOPs for mining rare earth elements, following a probe into a RM13 million REE mining project in Kedah, over which Sanusi was questioned.
Free Malaysia Today
08-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
No ban on vape sales yet, says Kedah MB
Kedah housing, local government and health committee chairman Mansor Zakaria had been asked to present a proposal on vape sale controls at the next exco meeting. PETALING JAYA : The Kedah government is looking to implement controls on the sale of vape or electronic cigarettes in the state before it decides on a statewide ban, says menteri besar Sanusi Nor. He said the state government is in no hurry to ban vape sales as its local authorities have already issued licences for their sale. 'Terengganu began the process of banning vape sales in 2016. That process has taken almost 10 years (to materialise). 'Kedah's local authorities have previously issued licences for vape shop premises, so (the businesses) have the right to operate. 'We cannot make a decision today (to ban vape sales), or (the businesses) may sue us,' Utusan Malaysia quoted him as saying at a press conference today. The Terengganu government will no longer issue new business licences for vape sales from Aug 1, following a recent call by deputy inspector-general of police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay for states to follow in the footsteps of Johor, which has banned vape sales since 2016. Sanusi said Kedah housing, local government and health committee chairman Mansor Zakaria has been asked to present a proposal on vape sale controls at the next exco meeting. He said the controls would be enforced until the businesses' licences expire, after which the state government would decide whether to ban vape sales. Mansor said the controls might include prohibiting vape advertisements, as well as their sale to those under 18 years old. 'Vape shops currently have billboards advertising vapes at their premises, but that will no longer be allowed. The products must also be sold in enclosed premises such as convenience stores,' he said.
