The government is currently considering moving cigarettes to the non-Halal section of supermarkets, convenience stores and more.
According to a report by Harian Metro, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Ma’im Mokhtar shared that a proposal on this issue will be discussed as it is a fact that cigarettes have been declared Haram since 1995.
His party will be examining the proposal with the Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
“From our perspective, it is a part of fatwa (banning cigarettes). So, as far as determining whether (cigarettes) can be placed in a Halal section or not, that is under the authority of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN). So, I will try to discuss this (with them),” he said.
Cigarettes were declared as Haram in 1995, while vape and electronic cigarettes were declared so in 2015.
Malaysia has an estimated 4.8 million smokers and approximately 27,200 deaths in Malaysia every year are related to smoking habits.
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