Jason Ong says proper regulation would help curb the sale of illegal fireworks that are more likely to lead to mishaps.
Jason Ong said the current approach to illegal fireworks, which are more likely to lead to mishaps, focused on enforcement.
However, he said enforcement has not been consistent enough to curb their sale, adding that smuggling of illegal fireworks was rampant, with corruption a possible reason.
He said imposing heavier penalties on those who smuggle, distribute, or sell illegal firecrackers would be meaningless if enforcement of the relevant laws remained weak.
“Heavier penalties would be meaningless if enforcement continues to be lackadaisical and selective. However, if the fireworks comply with international safety standards, they should be allowed,” he told FMT.
Ong, a former Kebun Bunga assemblyman, said the Explosives Act 1957 should be amended to specifically spell out the types of firecrackers that are allowed and prohibited.
“Currently, the Act focuses mainly on control and licensing,” he said, adding that regulation would ensure safety standards for firecrackers and better protect the safety of consumers.
On March 18, Suhakam’s children’s commissioners urged authorities to boost enforcement against illegal firecrackers, after a four-year-old boy lost several fingers and sustained serious injuries in a firecracker explosion.
They said there was a rise in cases of children suffering injuries while playing with illegal firecrackers, calling for the Explosives Act 1957 to be reviewed to impose heavier penalties on those who smuggle, distribute, or sell these products.
Currently, police only allow the sale of 45 types of “Happy Boom” and “Pop-Pop” brand fireworks.
Criminologist P Sundramoorthy said measures against illegal firecrackers have been ineffective due to strong demand, informal markets and cultural acceptance.
“The perceived likelihood of punishment remains low, weakening deterrence,” said Sundramoorthy, of Universiti Sains Malaysia.
However, he said a blanket ban on fireworks could further entrench black markets, especially when such prohibitions do not align with social practices.
Sundramoorthy said lighting firecrackers remained deeply embedded in festivities, with many Malaysians justifying it as a “once-a-year” activity despite it occurring across multiple celebrations annually.
To better combat illegal firecrackers, he called for intelligence-led enforcement targeting supply chains, including import routes, storage hubs and distribution networks.
He said regulating fireworks was a good approach but parents and guardians must be mandated to supervise children under 16 playing with them. - FMT
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