KUCHING: The Sarawak Government has agreed in principle to ban ‘Vape Piu Piu’, with implementation to be considered after awareness campaigns and updated statistics on vaping-related crimes, accidents and health impacts are presented.
Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, said the proposed ban had been agreed in principle after being submitted to the State Cabinet but that public education on the dangers of vaping must be prioritised before implementation.
“Before the policy is implemented, the state Cabinet will ask my ministry and the Sarawak Health Department to carry out extensive awareness and advocacy programmes.
“At the next State Social Development Council meeting in about two weeks, we will present further comprehensive data from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Ministry of Health (MOH) and other relevant agencies on cases link to vaping such as brain damage, domestic violence and other crime.
“This will allow the State Social Development Council to present the public with actual figures rather than assumptions or isolated examples before determining the next course of action based on the collected statistics,” she told reporters after officiating the GoBald 2026 Main Shave Event organised by the Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) at The Hills today.
Earlier, when asked about concerns over drug-laced vape products known as ‘Piu Piu’ among school students and teenagers, as well as reports of continued vape-related cases despite earlier inspections involving 98 registered premises, Fatimah said integrated enforcement operations had not detected prohibited substances being openly sold at registered outlets.
She said the joint operations involved the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Ministry of Health (MOH), and the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) Sarawak, with each agency carrying out checks within its jurisdiction.
“The inspections found no offences at the time, with premises having valid licences and vape products tested not containing prohibited substances,” she said.
However, she said enforcement outcomes could vary depending on timing and circumstances on the ground, and that situations might appear in order during inspections even when underlying issues exist.
She said vaping becomes more dangerous when substances, including drugs, are mixed into vape liquids, adding that such misuse is a key concern among youths.
“Cases linked to vape misuse often emerge during police operations such as roadblocks or nightclub inspections,” she said.
