In brief
In Malaysia, Mitragyna speciosa is traditionally called ketum, and less often biak-biak. The tree is native to peninsular Malaysia and the Malaysian part of Borneo. Since 1952 it has been subject to regulation under the Poisons Act 1952; the debate on legalisation continues, but as of 2025 no fundamental change has occurred.
The local name "ketum"
The word ketum is, in Malay and in some dialects of the northern states of Malaysia (Kedah, Penang, Kelantan), the name for the leaf of Mitragyna speciosa. In some areas the term biak-biak is also used. The etymology of the word ketum is not unambiguously documented in the available sources.
In the historical materials of the British colonial administration (Burkill, 1935: A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula) the plant is described as part of traditional village pharmacy and agriculture.
Legal restriction since 1952 (Poisons Act)
In 1952 the Federation of Malaya classified kratom as a controlled substance under the Poisons Act 1952. Cultivation, possession and distribution of the leaf require a permit, and a violation may be sanctioned with a fine and imprisonment. The specific levels of the penalties have been updated over the years.
Unlike Thailand, where a full decriminalisation regime was introduced in 2021, Malaysian regulation remains restrictive. In some northern states (especially Kelantan), however, there is extensive traditional use that the police and regulatory authorities tolerate in practice.
The current legalisation debate
Since 2018 an academic and political debate on a possible reform of kratom regulation has been under way in Malaysia. Arguments for liberalisation:
- the traditional role in the southern and northern provinces,
- economic potential for small farmers (an analogy to the Indonesian model),
- the results of the Thai reform of 2021 (its political and social effects).
Arguments against:
- concerns about a shift from the traditional fresh leaf to concentrated extracts,
- the difficulty of international harmonisation with ASEAN neighbours,
- pressure from some religious authorities.
As of 2025 no amendment has been passed; the status quo of the Poisons Act 1952 remains in force.
Traditional use
Ethnographic works (Hassan 2013, Singh 2014) describe the traditional use of ketum in the northern and eastern states (Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah). As in southern Thailand, it is primarily the chewing of fresh leaf among farmers and fishermen as a means against fatigue.
In some villages, a decoction of the leaf was also used within traditional village pharmacy - this practice is, however, limited to specific localities and cannot be generalised to the whole of Malaysia. Closer context is described in Ethnobotany of kratom in Southeast Asia.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called "ketum" in Malaysia?
It is the local Malay name for the leaf of Mitragyna speciosa. The exact etymology is not documented in the available sources.
Is kratom illegal in Malaysia?
Yes, since 1952 it has been subject to regulation under the Poisons Act. Cultivation, possession and distribution require a permit.
Is there a grey market?
In the northern states (Kelantan, Kedah) traditional use is locally widespread despite formal illegality. Ethnographic studies (Singh 2014) estimate that tens of thousands of inhabitants regularly use the leaf even under conditions of a legal ban.
Do the Malaysian and Thai approaches differ?
Yes. In 2021 Thailand decriminalised possession of the leaf for personal use, while Malaysia maintains a restrictive regime under the Poisons Act 1952. More in the article Kratom in Thailand.
References
- Singh D. et al. (2014). Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa): Patterns of use and prevalence among rural communities in Malaysia. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 154(2), 367-372.
- Hassan Z. et al. (2013). From kratom to mitragynine and its derivatives. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 37(2), 138-151.
- Burkill I. H. (1935). A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Crown Agents for the Colonies, London.
