Hong Thai Inhalers Are Officially Prohibited In Malaysia, People Are Advised To Be Alert

Hong Thai Inhaler (Photo: Instagram/@mayureethaishop)

JAKARTA - The Malaysian Ministry of Health (MOH) issued a warning to the public not to buy or use the Hong Thai Inhaler product.

Reporting from The Sun page on Saturday, November 8, 2025, this herbal product had previously been withdrawn from the market in Thailand because bacterial contamination was found, but it was still found traded on several e-commerce platforms in Malaysia.

In the initial examination, the ministry found that the product was sold by local and international sellers at online stores.

MOH immediately took control measures, including filtering the sales list and blocking the seller links involved. In addition, law enforcement actions will continue to be carried out against anyone caught selling this product.

MOH emphasized that Hong Thai Inhaler is not registered under the Drug Control Authority (DCA) so it is prohibited from being sold or distributed in Malaysia, either directly in stores or online.

Through the Pharmaceutical Enforcement Division, the Ministry has found 335 lists of sales of the product online and has submitted reports to e-commerce officials to immediately remove related advertisements to protect public health.

People who have already bought this product are asked to stop using it immediately. If suspicious reactions or symptoms appear, it is advisable to immediately get a medical examination.

The Ministry of Health also reminded that selling or storing unregistered drugs violates the 1984 Drug Control and Cosmetics Regulations and can be subject to punishment in accordance with the 1952 Drug Sales Law.

- Individuals who violate can be fined up to 25 thousand Ringgit (Rp99 million) or imprisonment for up to 3 years.

- The company can be subject to a fine of up to 50 thousand Ringgit or IDR 199 million.

MOH continues to monitor ads for health products on various platforms, including social media and e-commerce sites. Until September 30, 2025, the ministry noted:

- 25,335 ads of health products have been checked

- 1,958 URLs requested to be blocked

- 11,287 lists of sales in e-commerce ordered to be removed

- Unregistered products worth RM41.3 million have been confiscated (covering 10,442 items)

To increase public awareness, the Pharmaceutical Supervision Division is also running a 'Reject Illegal Medicines' (TOBaTS) campaign aimed at educating the public about the dangers of using illegal health products.

How To Check Drug Authenticity

The Ministry of Health urges the public to always check the status of drug registration before buying, namely by ensuring the existence of a security hologram and drug registration number (MAL).