Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has issued a stern warning to teachers caught smoking cigarettes or using electronic cigarettes (vapes) on school premises, stating they could face fines of up to RM10,000 or imprisonment for up to two years.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) is taking a strong stand against such conduct, especially when it occurs publicly or in front of students, as it violates the Malaysian Teacher Standard (SGM). Fadhlina emphasized that this behavior damages the teaching profession’s reputation and sets a poor example for students. This statement came in response to a parliamentary question raised by Nurul Amin Hamid (PN-Padang Terap) concerning efforts to reduce vaping among students, following reports of some teachers openly using vapes.
The MOE is currently revising the Education (School Discipline) Regulations to explicitly ban cigarettes, vaping devices, and vape liquids within schools, aligning with the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024, which came into effect on October 1 last year. The Act also prohibits the sale of vaping products to anyone under 18 and restricts vape shops from operating within 40 meters of school grounds.
Fadhlina reiterated that the ministry continues to enforce previous directives declaring schools as smoke-free zones. She called on parents, guardians, local councils, and the wider community to help monitor the sale and use of vaping products among students and to be alert for any signs of addiction.
