The Ministry of Health is stepping up controls at cargo facilities and entry points with customs and border agencies to curb medicine smuggling.
TUARAN: The Ministry of Health (MOH) is stepping up controls at cargo facilities and air entry points through strategic cooperation with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) and the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) to curb the smuggling of illicit medicines.
Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the move was aimed at breaking up smuggling syndicates before illicit medicines entered the local market, while reflecting the government’s commitment to ensuring that only safe, quality and effective pharmaceutical products reach consumers.
He said Sabah and Sarawak’s geographical location also exposed the two states to the threat of cross-border smuggling through illegal routes, land border crossings and sea routes used to bring in prohibited medicines.
“We are stepping up controls at cargo facilities and air entry points through strategic cooperation with JKDM and AKPS to break the syndicates’ supply chain before the products reach shop shelves,” he said at the Kembara Tolak Ubat Tidak Sah (TOBaTS) Borneo Zone programme, which was launched by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor here today.
Citing statistics from the MOH Pharmacy Enforcement Division, Dzulkefly said the value of illicit medicines seized nationwide from 2023 to 2025 exceeded RM132.4 million, involving more than 64,000 products.
He said most of the products seized were unregistered health supplements and traditional medicines (jamu) adulterated with dangerous steroids such as dexamethasone, as well as slimming products containing sibutramine.
In Sabah, he said the value of illicit medicines seized over the past three years was almost RM4.5 million, comprising RM984,277 in 2023, RM2.89 million in 2024 and RM633,639 in 2025.
Dzulkefly said the rapid growth of digital technology and e-commerce platforms had also created new challenges, exposing the public to serious public health risks if awareness remained low.
“I therefore urge all Malaysians to make check before you buy a mandatory practice. Do not be easily taken in by unreasonably low prices or ‘magical’ testimonials on social media.
“Always make sure that the medicines you buy carry a MAL registration number and a genuine FarmaTag® hologram sticker. Use the MyUBAT application to verify them before making payment,” he said.
He also urged village heads, Village Development and Security Committees and traditional leaders throughout Sabah to become TOBaTS ambassadors and immediately report suspicious medicine sales to MOH, particularly antibiotics being sold at sundry shops.
The Kembara TOBaTS Borneo Zone 2026 programme is a continuation of the campaign’s roadshow series aimed at raising public awareness of what constitutes illicit medicines, including products that are unregistered with MOH, counterfeit or fake, adulterated with prohibited substances or poisons, obtained from unauthorised sources or imported without approval.
