PUTRAJAYA: Starting Jan 1 next year, laundromats and workplace buildings in both government and private sectors will be designated as non-smoking areas.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced that these locations have been added under the Public Health Smoking Product Control Act 2024 (Act 852), which came into effect on Oct 1. This addition brings the total number of non-smoking areas to 28.
Dr Dzulkefly, who has advocated for this cause since his first term as Health Minister in 2018, expressed his gratitude for this development. During his previous tenure, he led the campaign for a non-smoking ban in eateries and public spaces, which was successfully enforced in January 2019.
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"I am thankful that laundromats, where mothers and families often bring their children, are now recognised as non-smoking public spaces," Dr Dzulkefly said during a media briefing at the ministry's headquarters.
Among the 26 other areas included in the ban are internet cafés, national service training centres, observation towers, campsites, canopy walkways and areas within five meters of entrances and exits to canopy walkways in national and state parks.
The ban also extends to school buses and public transportation vehicles.
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The Act will be enforced in two phases: immediate enforcement and education-based enforcement. Immediate enforcement, which began on Tuesday, targets the sale of smoking products in the form of games that attract children and teenagers, aiming to limit their availability, especially to minors.
Additionally, the Act bans the sale of smoking products in educational institutions, marketplaces, online platforms, and vending machines. All forms of advertisements, promotions and sponsorships targeting children and youth for smoking products are also prohibited with immediate effect.
