Khairy said exporting locally-produced ketum to countries like the United States – which he claimed had a billion dollar ketum industry – would help Putrajaya generate revenue instead of destroying the plants.

The ex-Rembau MP suggested that the government should set up a ketum board to ensure that ketum produced locally by smallholders would be regulated and used for export purposes only.

“Since other countries allow the use of ketum, I don’t see any problem with us exporting it. We establish tight procedures, like only allowing the ketum board to buy and process the plant for export.

“Smallholders can sell their products and generate additional income every month instead of getting arrested by the police (for possessing ketum leaves),” he said in an episode of the Keluar Sekejap podcast.

Khairy added that a study on the use of ketum for medicinal purposes was being conducted when he was health minister.

It is an offence to possess ketum leaves or a ketum drink in Malaysia because it contains mitragynine, which is listed as a controlled substance under the Poisons Act.

In July last year, the Kedah government completed a proposal paper on the export of ketum leaves for medicinal purposes to Thailand.

Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor had suggested that Putrajaya allow the export of ketum leaves, especially to Thailand, for medicinal purposes as a measure to curb ketum smuggling.

In January, deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof said the government would discuss the use of cannabis and ketum for medicinal purposes if they were legalised, particularly on controlling the cultivation of the plants.