Towards a healthier Malaysia: Dzulkefly (third left) at the launch of the first National Blueprint for Behavioural Insights in Health in Cyberjaya. With him is WHO representative to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe (second right).
CYBERJAYA: The Health Ministry is targeting the middle of next year to ban vape products to emphasise its commitment against the smoking habit, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
“We are taking a phased approach. The effort is ultimately to finally ban vapes,” said the Health Minister.
An expert committee has provided its recommendations on banning vape products, he said.
“The committee is looking into the matter in detail,” he added.
On Sept 11, Dzulkefly said the ministry is finalising a Cabinet memorandum on the proposed vape ban, but he could not disclose the details until it has been deliberated at the Cabinet level.
“I cannot pre-empt the Cabinet’s decision,” he told reporters yesterday.
Dzulkefly explained that the final timeline would depend on the Cabinet’s approval, but the ministry would continue to push for a ban by setting the mid-2026 deadline.
“I am hoping it is going to be somewhere in the middle of next year. If not, then in the second half of 2026, but we definitely want to have the ban,” he added.
At the launch of the first National Blueprint for Behavioural Insights in Health yesterday, Dzulkefly highlighted the importance of behavioural insights that could promote healthier choices.
He said laws and regulations have their limits and science-based behavioural insights could help those with vaping habits to have the option to quit on their own, without relying on coercion or enforcement.
In his speech, Dzulkefly revealed that pilot projects that include “nudging” strategies have been successful in encouraging people to pick healthier habits.
For example, he said there was a three-fold increase in weekly fruit sales at the supermarkets when fruit displays were located prominently with added positive verbal prompts.
“It’s not that people do not know fruits are good for them. But by making them more visible and attractive, it becomes easier to make the healthier choice,” he added.
The National Blueprint for Behavioural Insights in Health was done by the ministry in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Dzulkefly said it is a landmark roadmap highlighting that health and well-being must be transformed not only through medicine, but through behaviour, systems and shared responsibility.
“This blueprint shifts the focus from awareness to action, and from treatment to promotion and prevention by addressing the behaviours, environments, and systems that shape health.
“It is about giving Malaysians the support they need to act on what they already know is good for them,” he added.
As part of this agenda, Dzulkefly said Malaysia will host its first National Conference on Behavioural Science for Health next year.
The conference will bring together policymakers, health professionals, researchers and community leaders to exchange knowledge, showcase innovations, and strengthen collaboration.
Replying to a query from the press later, he said the ministry might propose that fruits and fresh produce be included in the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) redemption list to promote healthier eating habits among Malaysians.
“This is a good suggestion,” he said in response to a question about whether the ministry would make such a proposal to the Cabinet.
Currently, Sara recipients can redeem food items such as rice, bread, cooking oil, flour, biscuits, instant noodles, milk and personal care products such as shower gel and sanitary pads.
