In a statement, health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the enforcement of the ban on smoking at restaurants, implemented in 2018, was an important step as the country continues to transition to the endemic phase of Covid-19, citing the World Health Organization’s statement that smokers are at a higher risk of experiencing more severe symptoms if infected.

“Activities to enforce the smoking ban have been stepped up in all states across the country,” said Khairy, adding that so far this year, 3,419 offence notices had been issued with Terengganu (652 notices), Pahang (601), Sarawak (365), Perak (356) and Kuala Lumpur (303) the worst offenders.

He also said a “mega operation” had taken place on Oct 23 involving 70 members of the ministry’s disease control division and the KL health department, which resulted in 15 notices issued for smoking at restaurants, five to premises owners for failing to display signage and prevent patrons from smoking, and 41 for smoking in shopping malls.

Similar activities were carried out in Johor, in which 23 customers and three owners of premises were reprimanded.

“(The health ministry) would like to emphasise that the smoking ban is not intended to punish smokers but was implemented to avoid complications due to smoking, to smokers themselves as well as passive smokers around them.”