According to The Star on October 11th, Malaysian Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad stated that the ban on tobacco product displays will not lead to high renovation costs for businesses. The ban only requires businesses to ensure that tobacco products are not visible to children.
He refuted the grocery store owner's claim that complying with the tobacco display ban would require nearly RM300 million (USD 70 million) in renovation costs. Zulkifli pointed out that businesses only need to add shielding screens to their existing display cabinets, which is a relatively low-cost option. The renovation costs for each retailer will not exceed RM6000 (USD 1400), and in most cases, it will only be a few hundred Ringgit. Furthermore, the government has provided a six-month education enforcement period for these adjustments, so it will not significantly impact the businesses' income.
Previously, the Malaysian Grocers Association stated that the cost of implementing a comprehensive display ban could be close to 300 million Malaysian Ringgit ($70 million) as shelves in stores would need to be reconfigured. They emphasized that in the current economic environment, small family-run grocery stores are already facing difficulties.
The Public Health (Control of Tobacco Products) Act (No. 852) came into effect on October 1st, with the Ministry of Health announcing that certain measures under the law will be implemented in phases. The ban on product displays will be enforced starting on April 1st, 2025, with educational enforcement taking place before that date. Enforcement of packaging and labeling of tobacco and e-cigarette products will begin on October 1st, 2025.
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