Penang, Malaysia
Smoking policy at Penang, Penang International Airport (PEN)
Warnings & Caveats
Vaping is banned at PEN outside designated smoking zones under Act 852 (effective October 1, 2024). Smoking anywhere other than the gazetted designated areas is prohibited and subject to enforcement. Cigarettes brought into Malaysia must be declared at customs. The duty-free limit is 200 sticks. One traveler was charged RM 0.66 per stick at the airside smoking room in October 2025, suggesting purchased cigarettes may be sold on-site rather than brought in freely. Counterfeit tobacco products carry severe penalties under Malaysian law.
Penang International Airport (PEN) has designated smoking areas both before and after security, but smoking and vaping are tightly regulated under Malaysia's Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which came into force on October 1, 2024. The airport is officially listed as a non-smoking zone, with only specific gazetted spots where lighting up is permitted.
Before Security
Landside, the only confirmed smoking spot is an outdoor designated area at the far end of the terminal exterior, near the curbside.
Head out of the arrivals or departures building and keep walking left past Gate 6 until you see the smoking sign.
This is an open-air covered curbside area, as shown in the images, with a metal roof and views of the car park. It is accessible to anyone, no boarding pass needed.
The official gazette also lists Level 1, Zon A, Arrival North part and Level 2, Zon B, Departure South part as permitted smoking zones at PEN, so there are at least two landside zones formally approved.
After Security
Airside, there is a confirmed smoking room in the international departure area.
The room is located near Gate A6, at the far end of the international departure concourse, next to Old Town Coffee. Multiple traveler reports from 2022 through October 2025 confirm it is still open.
It is a small, glass-walled enclosed room with stainless steel standing ashtrays and ventilation. Seating appears minimal based on photos.
The official gazette also lists a smoking zone at Level 2, Domestic Departure (in between Gate B5 and B7) and a smoking zone at Level 2, International Departure (in between Gate 5) as gazetted permitted areas, so both domestic and international airside passengers have access to designated spots.
The Plaza Premium Lounge operates in both the domestic and international terminals (airside, mezzanine level on the international side). Access is pay-at-the-door or via lounge passes and membership programs such as Priority Pass. Whether the lounge itself has a dedicated smoking area is not confirmed in the available sources, but it is worth asking at the door.
Vaping Rules
Vaping is banned under Act 852 in the same 28 categories of places as smoking, including airports, except in the same gazetted designated zones. Do not vape anywhere outside the marked smoking areas.
Cigarette Import Rules
If you are arriving in Malaysia, be aware of strict tobacco import rules:
Duty-free allowance: up to 200 cigarettes or 225 grams of tobacco.
You must declare all tobacco at customs. Failure to declare can result in fines or confiscation.
Excess quantities are subject to import duties under the Customs Duties Order 2022.
One traveler (October 2025) reported being charged RM 0.66 per cigarette stick at the airside smoking room, suggesting cigarettes purchased outside Malaysia may not be brought through freely.
Counterfeit tobacco products are strictly prohibited and carry severe penalties.
Bottom Line
You can smoke both before and after security at PEN, but only in the specific gazetted zones. The airside room near Gate A6 is the most reliably reported option for international departures, and it was confirmed open as recently as October 2025.
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