Kuala lumpur: Comedian Shahmira Muhamad, popularly known as Shuib Sepahtu, was fined RM10,000 by the Magistrate's Court after he admitted to promoting an electronic cigarette (vape) product two years ago. Magistrate Ezrene Zakariah imposed the fine on Shuib, 42, with an alternative of one month in prison if he failed to pay. Shuib opted to pay the fine.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the charge stemmed from a YouTube podcast where Shuib promoted a smoking product brand on October 22, 2024, at 4.26 pm. This act contravened Section 9(1) of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health 2024 (Act 852), which prohibits any arrangement promoting tobacco or its substitutes likely to encourage smoking. The offence was identified through the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?vz7nMOPQxbFwo, reviewed on the same date by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
The charge was under Section 9(3) of Act 852, which prescribes penalties under Section 9(3)(a)(i) of the same law. For a first offence, the law allows for a fine up to RM20,000, imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both upon conviction.
Prosecuting Officer Kua Ah Kiong from the Ministry of Health (MOH) requested a deterrent sentence to prevent the promotion of cigarette products, citing the adverse impact on public health. He emphasized the violation of Act 852 and the necessity of prioritizing public interest over personal gain from such promotions.
Kua stated that smoking products pose serious health risks and incur high treatment costs. He highlighted the vulnerability of children and adolescents to promotional content, especially when endorsed by influential figures.
Shuib's legal representative, Ahmad I'zzudin Ahmad Nadzri, argued that Shuib functioned merely as the podcast producer and that the agreement with the vape company predated the enforcement of Act 852. He noted that the charge was filed on October 22, 2024, before the Act's official notification in April 2025.
Ahmad I'zzudin further explained that Shuib had promptly removed the podcast from YouTube, making the content inaccessible and thereby mitigating its societal impact.