MOH conducted 25,643 enforcement operations under Act 852, issuing 160,839 compounds and securing RM394,700 in court fines for smoking offences.
PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Health has conducted 25,643 enforcement operations nationwide since the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 came into force.
These operations involved inspections of 496,247 premises up to November 30.
A total of 160,839 compounds were issued for various offences under the act.
These included 67 compounds against minors for purchasing smoking products and 137,568 cases of smoking in prohibited areas.
Other offences comprised 4,886 cases of minors smoking and 18,318 cases involving building owners or occupants.
The ministry also opened 2,352 investigation papers for non-compoundable offences.
Act 852 came into force on October 1, 2024, with full implementation beginning a year later.
Ops Selamat Paru-Paru was launched to strengthen enforcement activities under the act.
The operations focused on the manufacturing, distribution and sale of all smoking products, including electronic cigarettes.
This effort aims to protect the younger generation from the dangers of increasingly prevalent smoking products.
On prosecution efforts, MOH said 58 cases have been concluded in court.
These resulted in total fines amounting to RM394,700.
In a related development, the Magistrate’s Court here convicted comedian Shahmira Muhamad, known as Shuib Sepahtu, for promoting vaping.
His offence was committed through the Dol’s Podcast programme two years ago.
Shuib’s actions contravened Section 9(1) of Act 852, and he was fined RM10,000.
MOH stressed that enforcement and prosecution are measures of last resort.
The ministry urged all parties to cooperate in complying with Act 852 to prevent disease and achieve optimal public health outcomes.
