KUALA LUMPUR: Almost half of the notices issued for smoking in prohibited areas last year were for offences in restaurants, says the Health Ministry.
The ministry said that smoking at restaurants accounted for 62,978 of the 140,217 offences recorded under Section 16(2) of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852).
Some 20,884 compounds were also issued to premises owners for providing smoking amenities and for failing to display “no-smoking” signs.
A total of 22,278 enforcement operations were carried out last year.
“Individuals smoking in prohibited areas such as restaurant premises is an issue taken seriously as it exposes the public to secondhand smoke. Monitoring and enforcement operations will be intensified, including immediate action on complaints lodged through official channels, including the 
jomlapor.com website,” the ministry said in a written reply dated Thursday (Feb 26).
The ministry added that enforcement is also carried out firmly and continuously through routine inspections, targeted operations, public reports and collaborations with other authorities.
Education and advocacy efforts are also being strengthened through awareness campaigns on the harms of smoking, alongside initiatives to encourage smokers to quit using the mQuit service or at health clinics.
“The ministry’s implementation of smoking bans at restaurants is consistent and being intensified not only to protect public health but also to ensure that food premises remain smoke-free zones,” it said.
The ministry was responding to Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar), who had asked about the effectiveness of the enforcement of smoking bans in restaurants.
