2023 survey: Sarawak records highest smoking rate in Malaysia, teenage use alarming
KUCHING (July 13): Sarawak has the highest proportion of adult smokers in Malaysia according to the 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey, with teenage smoking emerging as an alarming trend, said state Health Department director Dr Veronica Lugah.
She said 28.5 per cent of Sarawakians aged 15 and above smoke — up from 22 per cent in 2019.
'In 2019, the proportion of adult smokers aged 15 and above was 22 per cent. By 2023, it had risen to more than 28 per cent. This is not a statistic that Sarawak can be proud of.
'Another alarming issue is the teenage smoking rate,' she said during the launch of the 2025 Sarawak-level Safe Lungs Operation (Ops Selamat PaPa) today.
Also present was Kuching South mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng.
Sarawak also ranks second nationwide for tobacco use among teenagers aged 13 to 17, according to the 2022 Adolescent Health Survey, and first for e-cigarette use at 20.3 per cent.
From October 2024 to June 2025, the Health Department carried out 2,281 enforcement operations and inspected 40,691 premises.
This resulted in 5,605 compounds worth RM1.38 million for offences under Section 47, and eight court cases related to the advertising, promotion, and sale of smoking products.
Dr Veronica said Ops Selamat PaPa combines public awareness campaigns, preventive measures, and enforcement under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which took effect on Oct 1 last year.
The law regulates all smoking products, including e-cigarettes, and strengthens enforcement powers.
The initiative focuses on reducing smoking and second-hand smoke exposure among vulnerable groups such as children, teenagers, pregnant women, and the elderly, through health education, cross-agency collaboration, and stricter enforcement.
She expressed confidence in the Sarawak government's support and cooperation from agencies, the private sector, NGOs, and the public in creating a smoke-free generation and healthier environment. Dr Veronica Lugah National Health and Morbidity Survey smoking teenage
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2023 survey: Sarawak records highest smoking rate in Malaysia, teenage use alarming
Wee (front, right) flagging off the convoy for the 2025 Sarawak-level Safe Lungs Operation accompanied by Dr Veronica (front, second right). KUCHING (July 13): Sarawak has the highest proportion of adult smokers in Malaysia according to the 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey, with teenage smoking emerging as an alarming trend, said state Health Department director Dr Veronica Lugah. She said 28.5 per cent of Sarawakians aged 15 and above smoke — up from 22 per cent in 2019. 'In 2019, the proportion of adult smokers aged 15 and above was 22 per cent. By 2023, it had risen to more than 28 per cent. This is not a statistic that Sarawak can be proud of. 'Another alarming issue is the teenage smoking rate,' she said during the launch of the 2025 Sarawak-level Safe Lungs Operation (Ops Selamat PaPa) today. Also present was Kuching South mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng. Sarawak also ranks second nationwide for tobacco use among teenagers aged 13 to 17, according to the 2022 Adolescent Health Survey, and first for e-cigarette use at 20.3 per cent. From October 2024 to June 2025, the Health Department carried out 2,281 enforcement operations and inspected 40,691 premises. This resulted in 5,605 compounds worth RM1.38 million for offences under Section 47, and eight court cases related to the advertising, promotion, and sale of smoking products. Dr Veronica said Ops Selamat PaPa combines public awareness campaigns, preventive measures, and enforcement under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which took effect on Oct 1 last year. The law regulates all smoking products, including e-cigarettes, and strengthens enforcement powers. The initiative focuses on reducing smoking and second-hand smoke exposure among vulnerable groups such as children, teenagers, pregnant women, and the elderly, through health education, cross-agency collaboration, and stricter enforcement. She expressed confidence in the Sarawak government's support and cooperation from agencies, the private sector, NGOs, and the public in creating a smoke-free generation and healthier environment. Dr Veronica Lugah National Health and Morbidity Survey smoking teenage
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