Weak enforcement and an overreliance on overworked health inspectors could undermine the health ministry’s plan to ban the display of tobacco products from Oct 1, consumer and health groups warn.
Azrul Mohd Khalib, chief executive officer of the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy, said enforcement remains the main challenge as many retailers, including large convenience store chains, were still unprepared despite being given a six-month grace period.
“Visits to major retailers and convenience stores show an incomplete or inaccurate understanding of what the retail display ban entails.
“Many have built enclosed cabinets behind their counters to store cigarettes and vape products, but still keep them freely available outside those cabinets along with related advertising,” he told FMT.
Under the Control of Public Health (Control of Sale) Regulations 2024, tobacco and vape products cannot be openly displayed and must be kept in closed cabinets to limit visibility.
Azrul said the enforcement date was previously delayed at the request of industry players and other stakeholders. Any further postponement would send the wrong message about compliance with public health regulations, he added.
He suggested that the authorities focus their initial enforcement actions on larger retail chains before moving on to smaller outlets.
Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam (CASSA) president Jacob George said the display ban would be ineffective without strict enforcement.
He said past measures had little impact due to weak follow-up, noting in particular that the ban on smoking in restaurants has failed with patrons regularly seen lighting up at eateries.
“The health ministry must ensure cigarettes are not sold to anyone under 18 and that people don’t smoke in restaurants. Weak enforcement is the real issue, not whether cigarettes are displayed,” he told FMT.
Meanwhile, Petaling Jaya Coffeeshop Association president Keu Kok Ming said many businesses have already invested in enclosed racks and cabinets to comply with the new rules.
“Restaurant owners will follow the regulations. Now we hope the ministry won’t delay or backtrack on the deadline because many shops have already installed the racks,” he said.
The Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC) said there were concerns that a significant number among the 51,000 retailers affected have yet to install enclosed cabinets in line with the Control of Public Health (Control of Sale) Regulations 2024.
The group urged the government to stand firm on enforcing the display ban for tobacco and vape products.
