MALAYSIA will not reintroduce compulsory mask-wearing to curb the spread of tuberculosis, with the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) opting instead for a risk-based approach grounded in personal responsibility.
The ministry said it was confident that current strategies centred on self-protection and public awareness were more appropriate than reinstating sweeping mandates similar to those enforced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Public health practices that were strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic remain relevant and should be continued in the prevention of infectious diseases, especially those transmitted through the air and contact.
"Although the country has transitioned to the endemic phase of COVID-19, the risk of respiratory infections such as influenza, COVID-19 and other diseases spread through droplets and aerosols still exists.
"Therefore, the wearing of face masks is encouraged, especially for individuals experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, flu or sore throat, as well as those in crowded places or enclosed spaces with poor ventilation," the ministry said.
Mask use is also recommended for individuals visiting healthcare facilities or interacting with high-risk groups, including the elderly, patients with chronic illnesses and those with weakened immune systems.
The ministry stressed that the policy reflects a risk-based and self-responsibility framework aimed at protecting individuals, families and the wider community.
Recent data underscore the domestic nature of the tuberculosis burden. Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad previously said that 85 per cent of tuberculosis cases recorded in Malaysia involved citizens, while 15 per cent were among foreign nationals.
He cautioned against attributing the spread of tuberculosis to the influx of foreign workers, saying such perceptions were not supported by ministry data, which show higher case numbers among Malaysians.
Tuberculosis, he added, is not a new phenomenon in the country’s public health landscape but a longstanding endemic disease that requires sustained and collective attention. - February 22, 2026
