Nearly half of Penang smoking compounds issued in food premises, says state health director


GEORGE TOWN: A total of,7839 compound notices have been issued for smoking and vaping offences in the state, said Datuk Dr Fazilah Shaikh Allaudin (pic).

The state health director said 46.7% or 3,671 of the total notices issued were for offences committed at food premises.

"The total amount of compounds issued under the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations (Peraturan-peraturan Kawalan Hasil Tembakau) is about RM1.11mil," she said in a dialogue with stakeholders during the state-level walkabout programme of the BeBAS (Clean, Smoke-Free) initiative here on Sunday (Oct 27).

Dr Fazilah said the department visited 7,447 premises in 2024 to monitor compliance with smoking restrictions.

She said as of September, 1,186 operations were conducted to enforce various acts under public health laws across the state for smoking offences in designated non-smoking areas.

She added that there were enforcement actions on 5,706 food premises under the Food Act 1983.

“The number of food premises given temporary closure orders under Section 11 of the Food Act 1983 is 149 premises, which is 2.6% of all premises inspected,” she said.

She said on Food Regulations and Food Hygiene Regulations, the state health department had issued a total of 2,164 offences notices this year.

Among other panellists in the dialogue session in the programme were Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni, Health Ministry Disease Control Division director Datuk Dr Norhayati Rusli and Food Safety and Quality Division (FSQD) senior director Norrani Eksan.

Some 150 participants comprising food premises owners, NGOs and restaurant association representatives attended the programme held at Dewan Sri Pinang.

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