PUTRAJAYA, May 13 — The Health Ministry (MOH) has set up a special committee to address electronic cigarette misuse, especially among school students, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
He said the committee was formed after several incidents that went viral on social media were found to involve student vape use, as well as cases that led to deaths of vape users.
“This committee will meet soon and subsequently present its views and recommendations to me,” he told a press conference after attending a National Midwives and Nurses Day event here today.
He added that the MOH’s Public Health Division is reviewing the effectiveness of existing enforcement and legislation related to vape misuse.
“The findings and discussions will be presented to the committee, which is chaired by deputy director-general (public health) Dr Ismuni Bohari and public health consultant Prof Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman,” he said.
Dr Dzulkefly said the implementation of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 was also a key reason the committee was established.
“We are assessing the impact of existing regulations and conducting surveillance of vape-related cases,” he said.
Recently, a 10-second video went viral on social media, showing a group of students vaping in a surau. Another viral video featured someone claiming to have suffered health complications due to vaping. He reportedly died on May 7.
— Bernama
