MOH to launch ‘Op Selamat PaPa’ to curb vape use and strengthen smoking product enforcement

THE Ministry of Health (MOH) will launch a new nationwide enforcement initiative, Op Selamat Paru-Paru (Op Selamat PaPa), on 1 August to bolster the implementation of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), with a particular focus on the regulation of electronic cigarettes and vape products.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad told the Dewan Rakyat today that the campaign aims not only to protect men – who make up the majority of smokers – but also women and children exposed to second-hand smoke.

“Data from the National Cancer Registry shows that 8,091 cases of lung cancer were recorded between 2022 and 2023, involving 5,251 men and 2,840 women,” Dzulkefly said in response to a question from Datuk Ahmad Saad (PN–Pokok Sena).

He also welcomed the decision by several state governments not to renew licences for vape-selling premises, describing it as a “positive step” in support of public health.

In response to a supplementary question from Young Syefura Othman (PH–Bentong), Dzulkefly revealed that the ministry is reviewing an immediate ban on open-system vapes, which allow users to modify or add unregulated substances to vape liquids.

“As of June 2025, a total of 58 investigation papers have been opened. Nearly 70 per cent of them tested positive for illicit substances in vape liquids, including methamphetamine and synthetic cannabinoids,” he said.

Speaking at a press conference later, Dzulkefly said the ministry is considering a broader, long-term move towards a total ban on the use and sale of vape products in Malaysia.

“Act 852 is a regulatory law and does not provide for prohibition. If a complete ban is to be pursued, it will require a new legislative proposal,” he explained.

Any proposed ban, he added, would take into account multiple factors, including scientific and medical data, Electronic Cigarette or Vaping Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) cases, legal implications, the economic impact on the vape industry, and the feasibility of enforcement. - July 28, 2025