PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has conducted 25,643 enforcement operations, involving inspections of 496,247 premises nationwide, as of Nov 30, following the implementation of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852).
The ministry said a total of 160,839 compounds were issued for offences, including 67 compounds against minors for purchasing smoking products, 137,568 cases of smoking in prohibited areas, 4,886 cases of minors smoking, and 18,318 cases involving building owners or occupants.
“A total of 2,352 investigation papers were opened for non-compoundable offences,” the ministry said in a statement yesterday, Bernama reported.
Act 852 came into force on Oct 1, 2024, while its full implementation began on Oct 1, 2025, with the launch of Ops Selamat Paru-Paru (Ops Selamat PaPa), to further strengthen enforcement activities under the Act.
According to the Health Ministry, the operations focused mainly on the manufacturing, distribution and sale of all types of smoking products, including electronic cigarettes (vapes), as part of efforts to protect the younger generation from the dangers posed by increasingly prevalent smoking products.
On prosecution efforts, the ministry said that 58 cases have been concluded in court, resulting in total fines amounting to RM394,700.
In a related development, the ministry said the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday convicted comedian Shahmira Muhammad, better known as Shuib Sepahtu, for the offence of promoting vaping, through the Dol’s Podcast programme, two years ago.
According to the ministry, Shuib’s actions contravened Section 9(1) of Act 852, and he was fined RM10,000.
The ministry stressed that enforcement and prosecution measures are taken as a last resort, while urging all parties to cooperate in complying with Act 852, to prevent disease and achieve optimal public health outcomes.
