PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry remains steadfast in enforcing the ban on displaying tobacco products under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852).
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (pic) said the six-month educational enforcement period for the ban is sufficient.
“We are firm on this stance. That’s why we allocated six months for discussions and engagement (with traders).“Some have claimed that it is costly (to modify their premises), so we will discuss this further,” he said after launching the Occupational Safety and Health Day celebration yesterday.
Dzulkefly expressed confidence that a satisfactory solution could be achieved through dialogue and engagement with traders and industry stakeholders, reported Bernama.
Earlier this month, the Federation of Sundry Goods Merchants Associations of Malaysia called for a delay in implementing the ban on displaying tobacco products, set to take effect in April next year.It asserted that many retailers remain unclear about the guidelines and estimated that each store would incur costs of up to RM6,000 to modify the layout of their display cabinets to comply with Act 852, which came into force on Oct 1.
In another development, Dzulkefly said that the ministry had taken note of the issue of materials used for nurses’ uniforms and is prepared to address the matter at the ministry’s post-Cabinet meeting.
He expressed confidence that the ministry’s top management is open to considering the best solution.
The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) previously highlighted that some of the fabrics supplied for nurses’ uniforms were not only stiff and thick but also lacked the intended white colour.
Cuepacs president Datuk Dr Adnan Mat said the issue of low-quality white fabric for healthcare workers’ uniforms had been raised for some time and should have been resolved by the ministry.
