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Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Malay Mail
Teachers risk RM10,000 fine, two years' jail for vaping or smoking in schools, says Fadhlina
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 — Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has warned that teachers caught smoking cigarettes or using electronic cigarettes (vapes) on school grounds face fines of up to RM10,000 or a maximum two-year jail term. She said the Ministry of Education (MOE) will not tolerate such behaviour, especially when done in public or in front of students, as it breaches the Malaysian Teacher Standard (SGM). 'This act not only tarnishes the image of the teaching profession, but also sets a negative example for students. The MOE takes this matter seriously and will act firmly,' she said in a written reply published on Parliament's official website yesterday. She was responding to Nurul Amin Hamid (PN-Padang Terap), who had asked about measures to curb vape use among students following claims that some teachers were also using it openly. The ministry is revising the Education (School Discipline) Regulations to explicitly ban cigarettes, electronic devices and vape liquids in schools, in line with the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024, which took effect on Oct 1 last year. The Act also prohibits sales to those under 18 and targets premises selling vape within 40 metres of school grounds. Fadhlina said the ministry continues to enforce earlier circulars that ban vaping in schools and declare them smoke-free zones. She urged parents, guardians, local councils and the community to monitor sales and purchases by students, and to watch for behavioural changes that could indicate addiction.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- New Straits Times
RM10,000 fine, two years' jail for teachers caught smoking or vaping in school
KUALA LUMPUR: Teachers caught smoking or vaping in school areas can face up to RM10,000 in fines or two years in prison. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the Education Ministry will not compromise with teachers who smoke or vape, especially openly in schools, as it violates Malaysian Teacher Standards. "This act not only tarnishes the image of the teaching profession but also sets a negative example of students. The MOE takes this issue seriously and will act firmly," Utusan Malaysia reported her as saying. She was responding to a question from Nurul Amin Hamid (PN-Padang Terap) regarding the ministry's measures to curb cigarettes and vape use among students, following allegations that some teachers smoke or vape openly. The smoking ban in schools is enforced under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2004. It also prohibits sales to those under 18 and within 40m of school. "The ministry has also taken proactive measures to curb cigarette and vape in schools, including enforcing Circular No.17 of 2015, which prohibits smoking in schools, as well as Circular Letter No.5 of 1997, which enforces schools as no-smoking areas," she said. Parents, guardians, and local authorities are urged to educate children on the dangers of smoking and vaping to prevent addiction.
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Teachers caught smoking, vaping on school premises to face legal action, says Fadhlina
KUALA LUMPUR: Teachers caught vaping or smoking within school premises may soon face legal action, including fines of up to RM10,000 or imprisonment for up to two years, says Fadhlina Sidek. The Education Minister said her ministry will not tolerate teachers using vape, especially openly or in front of students, as this violates the Malaysian Teacher Standards (SGM), which emphasises the role of teachers as models of good character. "Teachers found vaping or smoking within school premises may face legal action such as fines up to RM10,000 or imprisonment of up to two years, in accordance with the Smoking Products Control Act for Public Health 2024," she said in a parliamentary written reply to a question raised by Nurul Amin Hamid (PN-Padang Terap). Nurul Amin had asked the Education Ministry to state the measures taken by the Ministry to curb the culture of vaping among school students, especially given allegations that some teachers openly use vape devices, setting a negative example for pupils and undermining the credibility of educational institutions. Fadhlina said the Education Ministry was also in the process of amending the Education (Student Discipline) Regulations to include in the sub-regulations a ban on smoking, which covers all forms of cigarettes, devices, electronic tools, and liquids related to vape. "This new amendment is in line with the enforcement of the Smoking Products Control Act for Public Health 2024, which was gazetted by the Health Ministry on Oct 1, 2024. "This prohibition includes the sale of vape products to individuals under the age of 18 and enforcement actions against premises selling vape within 40m of a school boundary or fence," she said.
