If you’re a teacher who vapes in front of your students, you could soon face a fine of up to RM10,000 or even jail time.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) has made it clear that it will not tolerate such behaviour, especially when it happens openly on school grounds.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said these actions go against the Malaysian Teacher Standards (SGM), which emphasise the role of teachers as moral examples for their students.
For teachers found vaping or smoking within school grounds, legal action such as a fine of up to RM10,000 or imprisonment of up to two years can be imposed under the Public Health Smoking Product Control Act 2024,”
she said in a written reply published on the Parliament website.
Her statement was in response to Padang Terap MP Nurul Amin Hamid’s (PN) question on what measures the ministry is taking to curb vaping among students.
This comes after claims that some teachers openly vape, setting a poor example and undermining the credibility of schools.
Stricter rules on the way
To strengthen enforcement, Fadhlina revealed that MOE is in the process of amending the Education (Student Discipline) Regulations.
The updated rules will explicitly ban all forms of smoking, including cigarettes, devices, electronic equipment, and vape liquids.
These amendments align with the Public Health Smoking Product Control Act 2024 (Act 852), which was gazetted by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on October 1, 2024.
The law not only prohibits the sale of vapes to those under 18 but also allows enforcement action against premises selling vapes within 40 metres of a school’s boundary or fence.
Community support needed
Fadhlina stressed that schools cannot tackle the issue alone. She called for cooperation from the public and local authorities to help monitor and report the sale and purchase of vapes involving school students.
At the same time, parents and guardians are urged to play an active role by keeping an eye out for changes in their children’s behaviour, as early intervention can prevent them from picking up the habit.
Parents must be vigilant and proactive so that their children do not get trapped in the habit of vaping,” she added.
