Since 2022, a total of 597 smoking offence notices have been issued in the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site as authorities sustain efforts to keep the area smoke-free.
Penang youth, sports and health committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said the enforcement reflected the state government’s continued commitment to preserving the heritage zone as a smoke-free area.
“The Unesco World Heritage Site in George Town has been gazetted a smoke-free zone since 2015, and efforts are ongoing to ensure compliance under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852),” he said.
Speaking at a press conference after launching the Penang Smoke-Free Awareness Promotional Materials and Survey Programme at Lebuh Armenian, Gooi said 106 offence notices were issued last year, while 127 had been recorded so far this year.
Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng and Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Wong Yuee Harng were also present.
Gooi noted that in some years, including last year, the number of offence notices remained relatively consistent despite increased enforcement activities.
“However, this year we are seeing an increase in the number of notices issued.
“If anyone is found to be smoking in a prohibited area, he or she will be issued an RM250 compound notice on the spot.”
Gooi expressed hope that the placement of additional promotional materials, as part of ongoing public awareness efforts, would serve as a reminder to both residents and tourists that they were entering a smoke-free zone.
Meanwhile, he said several other locations in Penang have also been gazetted as smoke-free zones under Act 852.
These include Penang City Park, Penang Botanic Gardens, Air Itam Dam, Mengkuang Dam, Taman Bandar Ampang Jajar and the Teluk Bahang Dam area.
