Since the Public Health Tobacco and Smoking Products Control Act 2024 (Act 852) came into effect on October 1, 2024, until March 31 of this year, the Ministry of Health has issued 37,381 violation notices for various offenses.
Deputy Director-General of Health (Public Health), Datuk Nor Hayati, pointed out that this is the result of 10,212 enforcement operations conducted nationwide.
She said that among the cases, 116 were prosecuted in court, involving offenses such as violating Section 7(1) on the prohibition of tobacco product advertisements, Section 9(1) on the prohibition of tobacco product promotions or sponsorships, Section 10(1) on the prohibition of selling tobacco products, Section 11(1) on the prohibition of selling imitation tobacco products, and Section 12(1) on the prohibition of using tobacco products as gifts.
"During this period, the Ministry of Health also confiscated 11,563 smoking products valued at RM266,833.10."
"The Ministry of Health has implemented educational enforcement for 206,657 cigarette sales personnel to ensure they understand and comply with the provisions of Act 852."
She mentioned this at the launch of the 2nd series of the 2025 Public Health Law Enforcement Focus Action held in Terengganu, which was also attended by Terengganu Health Director Datuk Kasemani.
Nor Hayati mentioned that the Ministry of Health takes smoking offenses in designated non-smoking areas very seriously and will intensify enforcement efforts nationwide this year.