CYBERJAYA: The government will not allow nicotine addiction to be repackaged as a trendy lifestyle to lure young people, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Health Minister warned that the real danger of modern tobacco and nicotine products lies not only in their chemical content but also in how they are designed, flavoured and marketed to appear harmless and socially acceptable to children and youths.
“To unmask the appeal means revealing the truth behind the image. Behind the colours, there is addiction. Behind the flavours, there is dependence. Behind the marketing, there is a public health burden,” he said during the national-level World No Tobacco Day 2026 celebration here yesterday.
Dzulkefly said the enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 is a key public health measure to regulate tobacco products, including vape devices and electronic cigarettes.
“Malaysia’s position is clear. We cannot allow addiction to be repackaged as a lifestyle.
“We cannot allow harmful products to be made attractive to young people, and we cannot allow the health of future generations to be compromised,” he stressed.
Based on the National Health and Morbidity Survey in 2022, smoking among young Malaysians aged between 13 and 17 showed a declining trend for traditional cigarette use, falling to 6.2%, but a concerning rise in vaping, with nearly 15% of teens using e-cigarettes.
Later at a press conference, Dzulkefly described smoking products such as tobacco and vape as a scourge of humanity.
“Though it is a legal product, it kills one in two smokers in its intended use.
“That is why we must continue supporting this agenda,” he said.
Earlier at the event, Dzulkefly also launched the LungShield Programme, a strategic collaboration between IHH Healthcare Bhd, the Health Ministry and the police to strengthen early detection of lung diseases.
In its first phase, the programme will screen 10,000 traffic police personnel, who are considered at higher risk of lung disease due to daily occupational and environmental exposure. The initiative will later be expanded to other police departments in stages.
The programme uses AI-assisted chest X-rays, radiologist reporting and follow-up diagnostic pathways to improve lung cancer detection and treatment, while also providing financial support mechanisms for those requiring further investigation.
Dzulkefly said lung diseases remain among the leading causes of illness and death in Malaysia, with many patients only diagnosed at advanced stages.
“Damage may begin quietly, without pain, warning or obvious symptoms.
“By the time many patients experience persistent cough, shortness of breath, chest discomfort or unexplained weight loss, the disease may already have progressed,” he said, adding that late diagnosis places a heavy emotional and financial burden on families.
He also urged parents and educators to speak to children early about the dangers of nicotine, reminding them that vaping is “not a symbol of maturity, and not harmless experimentation”.
For smokers and vapers trying to quit, Dzulkefly encouraged them to seek help before it is too late.
He urged the public to make use of the ministry’s smoking cessation services, including “Cik Era AI”, a new digital tool designed to support individuals trying to quit smoking.
