Cigar Puff By Ex-PM’s Aide Sparks Double Standards Debate Over Smoking Laws

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Former senior political secretary to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, has found himself at the centre of an online debate after a photograph allegedly showing him smoking a cigar in a public setting began circulating on social media.

The image has reignited discussions over whether Malaysia’s smoking laws are being enforced equally, particularly when prominent political figures are involved.

On Threads, user @asyraf.akbar.official questioned whether the Ministry of Health (MOH) would take action against the PKR politician, arguing that the image appeared to show him smoking at a food premises, where smoking is prohibited under Malaysian law.

View on Threads

However, it remains unclear where and when the photograph was taken, whether the location was indeed a food premises covered under the law, or whether no-smoking signage was present at the establishment.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the location, the image quickly drew strong reactions from netizens.

Many argued that the incident reflected what they perceived as double standards in the enforcement of smoking regulations, claiming that ordinary Malaysians would likely have been issued a compound if caught committing the same offence.

View on Threads

Others urged food premises operators to be more proactive in enforcing the smoking ban regardless of a customer’s social standing, stressing that every patron has the right to dine in a smoke-free environment.

Under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), individuals found smoking at food premises can be issued a RM250 compound. Failure to settle the compound may result in a court fine of up to RM5,000, imprisonment, or both upon conviction.

The prohibition applies to all food premises, including open-air restaurants, coffee shops, hawker centres, food courts, and areas designated as smoke-free under the law.

As of the time of writing, neither Shamsul Iskandar nor the Ministry of Health has publicly responded to the matter.

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Cigar Puff By Ex-PM’s Aide Sparks Double Standards Debate Over Smoking Laws
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