GEORGE TOWN: Compliance to no-smoking rules within the Penang heritage zone is dropping, says the state’s Health Department.
In a statement, the department said that Jan 24 illustrated the point, with enforcement officers issuing RM41,800 in compounds in a single day after detecting 174 offences during an anti-smoking operation at the heritage enclave here.
With the heritage zone here designated a Penang Smoke-Free Area since July 4, 2015, a total of 112 premises were inspected during the operation, which involved 99 enforcement personnel.
The operation was conducted under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which came into effect on Oct 1, 2024 along with expanded smoke-free zones, among other regulatory measures.
Actions taken included 108 notices requiring offenders to attend court, 35 notices for smoking in prohibited areas and three notices issued to underage individuals for smoking.
Action was taken against premises owners, with 27 notices issued for failing to display no-smoking signage and one notice issued for providing a smoking space at a premises where smoking was prohibited.
In a related development, two premises owners were prosecuted in court for failing to display notices prohibiting the sale of tobacco products, smoking materials or tobacco substitutes to individuals below the age of 18 at sales counters.
Both premises were fined a total of RM2,300.
From 2023 to Dec 23, 2025, a total of 304 compounds were issued to smokers within the heritage zone, with 74 issued in 2023, 124 in 2024 and 106 in 2025.
