Latest news with #SmokingProductsControlActforPublicHealth2024
Focus Malaysia
a day ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Harsh vaping penalties for teachers: A balanced approach needed
EDUCATION Minister Fadhlina Sidek recently announced a proposal to impose fines of up to RM10,000 or imprisonment of up to two years for teachers caught vaping or smoking on school grounds, which is in line with the Smoking Products Control Act for Public Health 2024. While MCA fully supports the principle that teachers must serve as role models for Malaysian children and youth, such measures must not overlook the broader context of teacher welfare and the many other pressing issues within our education system that demand urgent attention. Maintaining discipline in schools is important. However, imposing heavy fines and imprisonment as the implied first and only option for vaping offences among already overburdened and under-rewarded teachers appears disproportionate. In some cases, vaping may be an unhealthy coping mechanism for stress rather than a deliberate act of defiance against professional standards. According to April 2024 data from the Khazanah Research Institute, Malaysian graduates in education are earning significantly less than they did a decade ago. Nearly three-quarters of education graduates earn below RM2,000, with only a small fraction exceeding RM3,000. With the rising cost of living, economic hardship, and the daily demands of teaching, teachers are under immense strain and may seek other ways to cope with stress. In the Dewan Rakyat in 2023, deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh reported that 6,394 teachers went on early retirement—an increase from the previous year where 5,306 left the profession. Moreover, according to the Education Ministry in a Parliamentary written reply on June 26 last year, the majority of teachers left early because they were uninterested in their roles. Other factors were family, health, job duties and personal reasons. These exoduses indicate that more must be done to improve the welfare of teachers to propel them to remain in the teaching profession. Making criminals out of teachers simply for vaping are counter-productive to boosting teacher morale. At the same time, schools face far more serious challenges—such as teacher shortage, bullying, sexual predation, molestation, and many others—that present a far greater threat to student wellbeing than a teacher vaping on school grounds. These critical issues require urgent, sustained attention and resources from the Education Ministry, yet they often remain under-addressed. A more balanced approach is needed. MCA advocates for disciplinary measures that include counselling, mandatory training, or suspension before considering custodial sentences. Equally, the government should invest more in supporting teachers' mental health, raising remuneration, and improving working conditions to reduce the underlying pressures that may contribute to such behaviour. To truly uphold the no-vaping policy in schools, enforcement must be fair, proportionate, and part of a broader strategy that safeguards both student welfare and the wellbeing of our educators. ‒ Aug 14, 2025 Felicia Wong Yin Ting is the MCA education consultative committee deputy chairperson. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: 2Firsts
Rakyat Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Rakyat Post
Teachers May Face Jail Time If Caught Smoking Or Vaping In School
Subscribe to our FREE Teachers who smoke or vape may soon have to be more conscious about their habit, especially when they are on school premises. Ministry of Education (MoE) minister Fadhlina Sidek recently said that teachers who are caught vaping or smoking on school premises may face a fine of RM10,000 or jailed up to two years in the near future. In a Nurul Amin had asked the (education) ministry to state the measures taken to curb the culture of vaping among school students, alleging that some teachers were openly vaping. MoE is working to impose a ban on all forms of smoking and vaping Fadhlina said her ministry was also in the process of amending the Education (Student Discipline) Regulations to include 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 1 October, 2024. This prohibition includes the sale of vape products to those under the age of 18 and enforcement actions against premises selling vape within 40 meters of a school boundaru or fence,' she said. The government has been considering a nationwide ban on vape Researchers say vaping is less harmful than smoking, but is still In late July, news outlets reported a government proposal to impose a nationwide ban on the use and sale of e-cigarettes or vapes. In an At time of press, several states across Malaysia have banned the sale of e-cigarettes. The states include: Johor, Terengganu, Kelantan, and Perlis. Kedah has not issued an outright ban on e-cigarette sales yet, but it has decided to stop renewing business licences for vape retailers as their licences expire. Free Malaysia Today reported earlier that Kedah vape traders were told to Meanwhile, the Penang state government is open to banning vape sales and is actively monitoring the implementation of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024, according to a Bernama The Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) is a legislative law enacted to regulate the sale, advertising, and promotion of all smoking products, including e-cigarettes and vapes. It Statistics on smokers in Malaysia (2022) A report by anti-smoking foundation Global Action to End Smoking stated that in 2022, an estimated 6 million people In 2017, nearly 14 percent of youths in Malaysia aged 13 to 17 were current cigarette smokers. Statistics show that younger male Malaysians are more likely to smoke compared to femaes. Tobacco products cannot be sold to individuals younger than 18 years of age in Malaysia. Individual violaters would face a fine of up to RM20,000, a prison sentence of up to one year, or both. Subsequent offenses can lead to a fine of up to RM30,000, a prison sentence of up to two years, or both. For corporate bodies the penalties are even steeper, with fines potentially ranging from RM20,000 to RM100,000 for the first offence and imprisonment of up to two years, or both. Repeat offences for corporations can result in fines between RM50,000 and RM300,00 and imprisonment of up to three years, or both. These penalties are outlined in Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Harsh vaping penalties for teachers: A balanced approach needed
EDUCATION Minister Fadhlina Sidek recently announced a proposal to impose fines of up to RM10,000 or imprisonment of up to two years for teachers caught vaping or smoking on school grounds. This proposal is in line with the Smoking Products Control Act for Public Health 2024. While MCA fully supports the principle that teachers must serve as role models for Malaysian children and youth, such measures must not overlook the broader context of teacher welfare and the many other pressing issues within our education system that demand urgent attention.
AsiaOne
2 days ago
- AsiaOne
Malaysian teachers caught vaping on school grounds may face fines, up to 2 years' jail , Malaysia News
Teachers in Malaysia caught vaping or smoking within school premises may soon face legal action, including fines of up to RM10,000 (S$3,039) or imprisonment for up to two years. Malaysia's education minister, Fadlina Sidek, said there would be zero tolerance for teachers using vapes, especially in front of students, reported Malaysian news publication The Star on Tuesday (Aug 12). She added that the behaviour violates Malaysia's teaching standards which emphasise the role of teachers as role models of good character. "Teachers found vaping or smoking on school premises may be fined up to RM10,000 or face imprisonment of up to two years, in accordance with the Smoking Products Control Act for Public Health 2024," said Fadlina. Fadlina's response followed a query from Malaysian politician Nurul Amin Hamid regarding the measures being taken to address the growing vaping culture among school students, citing allegations that some teachers were openly vaping. Fadlina also shared that the education ministry is in the process of amending statutory sub-regulations on student discipline that would ban smoking, covering all forms of cigarettes, devices, electronic tools, and liquids related to vaping. "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," said Fadlina. "This prohibition includes the sale of vape products to those under the age of 18 and enforcement actions against premises selling vape products within 40 metres of a school boundary or fence." [[nid:670803]]
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Vaping teachers to face jail
TEACHERS caught vaping or smoking within school premises may soon face punitive action, including being fined up to RM10,000 or jailed for up to two years, says Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (pic). She said her ministry would not tolerate teachers using vapes, especially openly or in front of students, as this violated the Malaysian Teacher Standards, which emphasise the role of teachers as models of good character. 'Teachers found vaping or smoking within school premises may be fined 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 written reply to Nurul Amin Hamid (PN-Padang Terap). Nurul Amin had asked the ministry to state the measures taken to curb the culture of vaping among school students, alleging that some teachers were openly vaping. Fadhlina said her ministry was also in the process of amending the Education (Student Discipline) Regulations to include 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 those under the age of 18 and enforcement actions against premises selling vape within 40m of a school boundary or fence,' she said. In another written reply, Fadhlina said the proposal for a single university entrance exam for STPM, matriculation and foundation students applying to public universities required careful consideration. This is because the proposal involves multiple ministries, differing academic structures and varied assessment methods. 'Any changes must undergo in-depth study and comprehensive evaluation to remain aligned with the Education Ministry's commitment to providing fair and quality access to education for all students, regardless of their background,' she told Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan). Lim had asked whether a single common public examination could be implemented for all STPM, matriculation and foundation programmes when applying for places in public institutions of higher learning (IPTA), instead of the current practice of having three different examinations, in order to establish a more accurate and consistent basis for performance comparison aligned with excellence standards. Fadhlina said the implementation of the admission system to IPTA was an important aspect in assessing students' potential holistically, taking into account a balance between academic excellence and holistic development. 'Various educational pathways such as STPM, STAM, Foundation programmes and Matriculation programmes have been established to provide broader options for SPM leavers, in line with their individual inclinations and potential. 'Therefore the assessment approaches used also differ, in accordance with the objectives and direction of the respective programmes,' she said.
