Don't use the law to oppress Malay traders, says Ikhlas

The country’s laws should not be used to “oppress” the Malays and bumiputera, says Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs Alliance of Malaysia (Ikhlas) president Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah.

“As an NGO, Ikhlas has no intention to pick a fight with any party. We know that this country has laws, but the laws should not be used to oppress the Malays and bumiputera.

“We are only carrying out our responsibility to defend the rights of Malays and bumiputera as enshrined under Article 153 of the Federal Constitution,” Ridzuan told Malaysiakini.

Responding to the Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s reported displeasure with Ikhlas, he said the association would continue to meet with Malay and bumiputera traders who have been affected by the decision to ban sale of all vape-related products.

The sultan was quoted saying in a Bernama report: "To those who wish to challenge my decision, in particular Ikhlas president who claimed that he has collected one million names and signatures, where are the names that have been collected?

"I have not seen even a single name yet. Remember, don't be brainless and endanger the health of others for monetary gains.”

Last December, Ikhlas, acting on behalf of four Johor vape traders, filed a lawsuit against several government agencies for the raids conducted against vape traders.

Among others, the NGO demanded RM1 million in aggravated and exemplary damages, and for the seized items to be returned.

The Health Ministry has so far reaffirmed that it would be regulating the industry instead of imposing a ban, although several state governments have taken the move in line with the fatwa declaration in those states that vaping is haram (forbidden). -Mkini