PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry is committed to reducing smoking prevalence in Malaysia to 15 per cent by the end of next year, in line with the enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the ministry's target was based on a baseline set in 2011.
According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) Malaysia 2023, 4.8 million, or 19 per cent, of people aged 15 years and above in the country smoke.
"The baseline for 2025 was to reduce the prevalence to 15 per cent or lower. At that time, smoking was a significant concern.
"Currently, the smoking rate is 19 per cent, falling short by 4 per cent. We acknowledge and take cognisance of the fact that we had failed to achieve the target of 15 per cent that was set in 2011.
"As we approach 2025, we are still struggling to reach 15 per cent. If we can reduce the rate by four per cent in 2025, we will meet that target," he told reporters after a media briefing on the enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024.
He added that the Health Ministry's team and its enforcement officers would play a decisive role in achieving the goal.
While smoking prevalence has decreased in recent years, Dzulkefly said there was a marked shift from smoking to vaping, with the latter's prevalence rising from 4.9 per cent in 2019 to 5.8 per cent last year.
Regarding vaping, Dr Dzulkefly said no target had yet been set, as they currently only have a baseline figure of 5.8 per cent of the population. Dzulkefly said that the ministry would announce its target for to curb vaping in due course.
On other targets or key performance indicators (KPIs) related to the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024, Dzulkefly said the ministry would first observe the impact of enforcement activities before setting any new goals, which would be announced soon.
The Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 came into effect on Oct 1.
Among the provisions taking immediate effect is the ban on the sale of smoking products in the form of toys that appeal to children and teenagers.
"Educational enforcement" will be implemented gradually over a period of six to 12 months. This will include the registration of smoking products starting on April 1 next year, packaging and labelling regulations by product, and sales control at counters by Oct 1 next year.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has issued 2,548 notices to 2,930 premises as part of the educational enforcement efforts since Oct 1.
The notices serve as reminders to operators of the premises that they have six months to comply with the new regulations. The ministry also issued three fines to individuals caught smoking in prohibited areas.