Malaysia Issued 335 "Surat Tilang" Smoking Bans

Illustration of a smoking ban (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Malaysia's Ministry of Health (MOH) issued a total of 335 "compound notices" to a number of violators of the smoking ban during an integrated operation at 263 locations in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday night.

The total value of the 335 fines was 93,350 Malaysian ringgit (RM) or the equivalent of Rp314.48 million, which was imposed on individuals and place owners for violating the smoking ban.

Malaysia Ministry of Health's Disease Control Division Director Dr Norhayati Rusli said the compound notice was given to parties violating the 2004 Tobacco Product Control Regulations.

Of these, 284 letters were given to individuals who smoked in restricted areas, then 28 were notified to the owner of the premises for failing to ensure that there was no smoking activity in the location.

“In addition, 14 'compound notices' were also issued against the owner of the premises for not displaying a no smoking sign, seven notices involving the prohibition of smoking on minors, and the remaining two against the owner of the premises for not displaying a no smoking sign for minors and without pictorial health warnings," said Norhayati, quoted by Antara from Bernama, Sunday.

The integrated operation which lasted about five hours starting at 18.00 local time involved 220 members from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA), Royal Malaysian Police, Customs and Excise Department, and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

Meanwhile, during the operation, the Customs Department confiscated a number of cigarettes believed to have been smuggled into the country, while the MDTCA confiscated 147 packs of cigarettes under Article 5 of the 2011 Trade Description Act.

In addition, DBKL also issued two notification letters for violations involving the use of foreign workers without a valid work permit, and one notification letter for running a business without a permit.