Smoking in Malaysia

Smoking in Malaysia was first dealt with in legislation requiring a general warning message on all Malaysian cigarette packaging in 1976. Smoking bans in public places started to be implemented in the 1980s. Selling of cigarettes to persons under the age of 18 has been became forbidden since May 14, 1994. Tobacco advertising was outlawed in 2003; since January 1995, showing cigarette packaging in advertisements had been forbidden, and print media advertising had been restricted to only one page.

Malaysia is ranked 71st in per capita cigarette consumption, with an average of 646 cigarettes smoked per adult annually.

Smoking is technically banned in hospitals/clinics, airports, public lifts and toilets, air-conditioned restaurants, public transport, government premises, educational institutions, petrol stations, Internet cafes, shopping complexes and private office spaces with central air-conditioning; however, enforcement is an issue.

Starting 1 June 2010, it is an offence to smoke at private office spaces with central air-conditioning. Smokers flouting the ban may be fined up to RM10,000, or two years of imprisonment.

Prevalence

Out of Malaysia's 29 million population, the number of smokers is estimated to be 4.7 million or 23 percent. 44 percent of the smokers are men, while female smokers just accounted for 1 percent of the total smokers.

Illegal cigarettes issue

Malaysia has now set the minimum price for legitimate cigarettes, which as of 2013, is MYR 7 and must had at least 20 sticks. But illicit cigarettes are differently, and they can sold at a lower price and can have less than 20 sticks in each cigarette. The number of legal cigarettes had decline due to illicit cigarettes since its peak in 2003.

See also

• List of smoking bans