Page 85 - ANUAL REPORT MOH 2017

Authorized Officers who enforces public health laws in Malaysia consists of Medical Officer of Health in
a supervisory role and Assistant Environmental Health Officers as enforcement officers. Enforcement
officers are authorized under subsequent legislations as above and enforcement actions may vary
according to each law. Enforcement activity carried out towards public includes issuance of notices and
compounding offences for offences such as breeding mosquitoes, smoking in gazetted non-smoking
areas, selling tobacco product to minor including minors in possession of tobacco products. To control
the spread of infectious disease or in case of massive mosquito breeding, premises are temporarily
closed for the purpose of prevention and control activities.

Court proceedings are also taken against offenders who fail to pay any compound issued for certain
offences that may be compounded under the law. For non-compoundable offences, prosecution in court
is conducted from time to time by authorized officers. Public health law enforcement will continue to
create awareness among public. The public need to understand that any shortfall in health may cause
a negative impact on them and ultimately put them at risk of being infected.

Destruction of Disease-Bearing Insects Act 1975
The Health Ministry has carried out periodic enforcement operations in every state and district. In
controlling the occurrence of vector borne diseases, enforcement under the Destruction of Disease-
Bearing Insects Act 1975 has been enhanced by having more prosecution cases in court. Although the
number of inspected premises has decreased from 5.5 million premises in 2016 to 4.6 million premises in
2017, court penalties have increased from RM 1.3 million to RM 1.8 million in both years as in Table 10.

Table 10
Enforcement of Disease Bearing Insects Act

Premise No. of cases Penalty paid
Premise Compound Premise
Year harbouring registered in for offences
inspected issued closure
Aedes court (RM)
2013 4,491,465 66,383 15,359 117 1,809 301,460
2014 5,419,476 79,863 25,095 243 2,414 318,242

2015 6,151,233 97,811 18,187 429 1,558 936,950
2016 5,502,748 116,756 18,017 314 1,885 1,293,140

2017 4,623,927 122,927 24,450 196 1,867 1,800,560

Source: Public health Development Division, MoH

The Enforcement of the Destruction of Disease-Bearing Insects Act 1975 focuses on problematic
breeding areas such as construction sites, scrap metal premises, plant nurseries and industrial areas
which in turn decreases the number of premises inspected. In previous years, residential premises
were the main target of enforcement activities for vector borne diseases control.

Number of premises given closure order is in a decreasing trend in 2017 (196) compared to 2016 (314).
Most of the premise occupiers has taken steps to ensure that their building is free from mosquitoes.
For contractors who are still ignorant about this issue in construction sites, they were summoned to
courts and prosecuting officers managed to obtain higher penalties in 2017 (RM1.8 million) compared
to 2016 (RM1.3 million).

84 ANNUAL REPORT 2017 MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA