KUALA SELANGOR: A total of 8,500 premises across the country have been issued warnings for violating the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which came into effect on Oct 1.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (pic) said the offences were detected through 283 special operations held over five days involving 4,481 Health Ministry enforcers, ending on Saturday (Oct 5).
"We cannot take enforcement action like imposing fines; instead, we issue warnings in the form of literature and explanations," he said at a press conference after a walkabout programme in Selangor on Sunday (Oct 6).
He added that during the operation, enforcement actions were also taken against 12 smokers found smoking in banned areas.
"For smoking offences, we can take stern action according to existing regulations," he said.
Act 852, which was gazetted on Feb 2, came into effect alongside its regulations and orders on Oct 1, with some aspects being enforced immediately and others in phases.
Meanwhile, Dzulkefly described Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong’s statement regarding the delay in setting up a special taskforce to look into the death of a pathologist in Lahad Datu, Sabah, as less than accurate.
He added that the taskforce was established to analyse input from the investigation of the incident in further detail.
Khoo had expressed his disappointment over the ministry's announcement on Oct 2 that the taskforce would only be established on Oct 10, more than a month after the passing of Dr Tay Tien Yaa on Aug 29, cautioning that the delay may hinder justice for Dr Tay and the reforms needed to protect healthcare workers. – Bernama
