PETALING JAYA - A teacher in Malaysia was dismayed to discover a female student hiding an e-vaporiser in her underwear.

       “There was a spot check and suddenly we saw a pupil behaving oddly,” said the teacher, who wanted to be identified only as Jane.

       “When we asked her why... she confessed to having a vape device.” The student proceeded to take the device, shaped like a pen, from one of the least expected places – she took it out from her underwear.

       “She said she was hiding it for her classmates,” said Jane.

       The teacher added that vape devices found at her school look “exactly like stationery items”, making them hard to find.

       “The fact that vapes can resemble marker pens or highlighters allows students to vape discreetly between classes, unnoticed by teachers,” she said.

       Another teacher, Aisyah, said she has also encountered numerous cases like this.

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       She said her school’s management team has tried several methods to curb vaping, such as by removing ceiling panels in toilets to prevent students from hiding their devices.

       Despite these efforts, not all students stop vaping after being disciplined.

       “We conduct spot checks to confiscate vapes, issue warning letters and meet parents of repeat offenders, but we can’t punish them enough for it to be a meaningful lesson,” said Aisyah.

       Another teacher said that with vapes being sold at low prices, students are undeterred when their devices are confiscated because they can get replacements easily.

       “They even buy them second-hand from friends for around RM10 (S$3), and they are almost worn out,” said the teacher.

       Jane said vaping among youth is a complex issue of acceptance among peers.

       “They want to be able to fit in the same environment and they feel bored. The real challenge lies in addressing the underlying reasons why students turn to vaping,” she said.

       While schools are taking action, she believes parents must take a more active role in monitoring their children’s behaviour.

       “It’s widely known that vaping is harmful. Parents need to play a crucial role in keeping track of their children’s activities and friendships. In many cases, parents take it too lightly,” she added.

       Ms Megan Soh, 40, the mother of a 16-year-old, called for better education and stricter regulations to limit access to vaping products.

       “The fact that suppliers are making these devices look like everyday items is alarming. It comes down to education and making these products less accessible by imposing stricter regulations,” she said.

       Parent Action Group for Education chairman Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said parents must set an example by not vaping in the presence of their children.

       “Teenagers are at an experimental stage of their lives,” she said. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK