Penang, Malaysia, pushes forward with anti-smoking bill; 2,647 fines issued as of August

Aug.08.2025
Penang, Malaysia, pushes forward with anti-smoking bill; 2,647 fines issued as of August
Some businesses in Penang, Malaysia have until September 30 to comply with the Public Health (Control of Tobacco Products) Regulations 2024.

Key points of focus:

 

Business owners in Penang, Malaysia are required to comply with the provisions of the Public Health (Control of Smoking) Act 2024 (Act 852) by September 30th. 

Some merchants have not yet met the requirements of the law, and officials are urging cooperation in enforcement. The focus will primarily be on education, with fines being a secondary measure.


According to Buletin Mutiara on August 7th, business owners in Penang, Malaysia must comply with the regulations of the Public Health (Control of Tobacco) Act 2024 (Act 852) by September 30th. The act will come into effect after this date.

 

Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, a member of the Youth, Sports, and Health Affairs Committee, pointed out that through inspections it has been revealed that some businesses are still not complying with the requirements of the law. Gooi stated that he does not want to achieve compliance through fines, but rather prefers to educate businesses in order to fulfill their responsibilities.

 

Daniel stated that there is still plenty of time before the September 30 deadline. Some merchants have taken the initiative to post the latest notices, indicating that they will no longer sell e-cigarette products. However, there are still some merchants who have not complied with the regulations. Education and promotional activities are ongoing to ensure that efforts to create a smoke-free environment are successful.

 

According to the law, strict control over the registration and sale of all tobacco products is necessary. In addition, commercial establishments must display warning signs prohibiting smoking and the sale of tobacco products to minors.

 

Daniel added that as of August 5th, a total of 2647 fines have been issued for smoking in dining establishments, and there have also been 137 notifications sent to businesses for not displaying no smoking signs. During the operation, a total of 26 dining establishments were inspected, with 24 of them receiving the "Cleanliness and Safety" (BeSS) certification.

 

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