Malaysian Health Ministry sets up special committee on youth vaping

Malaysia's Ministry of Health has set up a special committee to investigate the use of vaping products, particularly among students, after several videos went viral on social media showing cases of vaping in schools, accompanied by health complications.[1]. Minister of Health Dzulkefly Ahmad clarified that this committee was established as part of the full implementation of Law 852 – Tobacco Products and Electronic Cigarette Control Act of 1^er October 2024. The committee is chaired by the Deputy Director General of Health, Dr. Ismuni Bohari, and benefits from the advice of Dr. Lokman Hakim Sulaiman, a public health expert.

Ministry of Health responds to growing use of vaping products

" We have identified several cases that have gone viral, including the mass use of vaping among students and one death suspected of being linked to vaping (known as "beping"). However, initial investigations reveal the possible presence of comorbidities, which requires further investigation before any definitive conclusions are reached. ", said Dzulkefly Ahmad during a press conference organized on the occasion of the National Day of Midwives and Nurses 2025, at the National Cancer Institute.

The minister added that the ministry was taking this matter very seriously and ordered the committee to urgently review the provisions currently in force and their application under Law 852. This matter will be addressed promptly at a future committee meeting to determine whether to maintain the current policy or incorporate new, more appropriate recommendations. Each decision must be evidence-based and take into account the overall public health implications. " he said.

The minister reiterated the ministry's commitment to comprehensively combating the issue of vaping products to protect public health. In April 2025, Deputy Inspector General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said more states should ban the sale of vaping products, which have been linked to the use of new synthetic drugs.

Several Malaysian states are considering banning the sale of e-cigarettes.

Meanwhile, the Menteri Besar (head of government) of the Malaysian state of Selangor, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, indicated that a proposal to ban the sale of e-cigarettes and vaping products in the state would be submitted to the State Executive Council (MMKN) for consideration. I have instructed to draft a text that will be presented to the MMKN for discussion. Any decision by the state government must be comprehensive and take into account all aspects to ensure the health of current and future generations. " he said at a separate event in Selangor.

He said Jamaliah Jamaluddin, the Selangor State Executive Council member in charge of Public Health, Environment, Climate Change and Green Technology, was tasked with preparing the proposal following a joint meeting with several agencies, including the Selangor State Health Department (JKNS), the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), and local authorities. The working session aimed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the enforcement, legal framework, and socioeconomic impacts of the sale of vaping products.

So far, only the states of Kelantan, Johor, and Perlis have banned the sale of vaping products, while the states of Selangor, Penang, and Kedah are still considering proposals to ban the use and sale of these products. The Terengganu state government, meanwhile, has already announced a ban on the sale of vaping products in all locations across the state, effective 1^er August 2025[2].

Recently, public health advocates and civil society groups have also called on the government to consider restricting or even completely banning vaping products in the country.[3]This call follows a study recently published by the University of Oxford, which shows that vaping could more than double the risk of serious lung diseases. Involving nearly 250,000 participants, it revealed that people who vape, even without a history of smoking, are 2.29 times more likely to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).[4].

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[1]The Vibes, Health Ministry forms special committee to tackle vape misuse among youth, published May 13, 2025, accessed May 13, 2025

[2]Free Malaysia Today, Task force to examine vape use among students, says Dzulkefly, published May 13, 2025, accessed May 13, 2025

[3]Seraj Zaf, Special committee to examine vape misuse – Dzulkefly, New Straits Times, published May 13, 2025, accessed May 13, 2025

[4]Tobacco-free generation, US study finds vaping doubles risk of serious lung disease, even without a history of smoking, published May 15, 2025, accessed May 15, 2025

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