13-07-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Visitors' board process to be reviewed after vape boss controversy
Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said Adzwan Abdul Manas's professional background presented a conflict of interest with the ministry's policies.
PETALING JAYA : The appointment process for members of hospital boards of visitors will be reviewed after a vape entrepreneur was appointed to Rembau Hospital's board of visitors.
Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said there was an oversight in the screening process as Adzwan Abdul Manas's professional background presented a conflict of interest with the ministry's policies.
Adzwan is the president of the Malaysian Retail Electronic Cigarette Association.
Dzulkefly said the appointment process for visitors' board members will be reviewed and improved in terms of eligibility criteria and their contributions to local communities, in line with national public health policies.
He said the ministry remains committed to appointing community representatives who are 'appropriate, competent, and principled.'
Yesterday, Adzwan announced that he had resigned from the Rembau Hospital board following criticism over his suitability for the honorary appointment. He said the decision was made after considering the potential negative impact and public perception arising from his involvement in the vape business.
Adzwan shared a photo of his appointment letter on social media on June 23. The letter was signed by Dzulkefly.
In a statement today, Dzulkefly acknowledged that Adzwan's appointment had significantly affected public perception of the ministry.
He said the ministry received 2,860 nominations to the visitors' boards of 143 public hospitals. Every nomination submitted to him had undergone a screening process that considered evaluations and recommendations from state representatives.
'However, in this particular case, there was an oversight in the screening process,' said Dzulkefly.
