A lawyer has suggested that fireworks meeting international safety standards should be permitted for sale to help eliminate the distribution of illegal and dangerous firecrackers.
Former Kebun Bunga assemblyman Jason Ong noted that the current strategy for managing illegal fireworks focuses heavily on enforcement. He pointed out that this approach has been inconsistent in stopping sales, with smuggling remaining a widespread issue potentially fueled by corruption.
Ong argued that increasing penalties for those smuggling or selling illegal firecrackers would be ineffective if the enforcement of existing laws remains weak. He told FMT that heavier punishments mean little if enforcement is lackadaisical or selective. He believes that if products comply with international safety benchmarks, they should be allowed on the market.
Reforming the Explosives Act
To improve the situation, Ong proposed that the Explosives Act 1957 be amended to clearly list which types of firecrackers are permitted and which are banned. He observed that the Act currently emphasizes control and licensing rather than specific product standards.
He added that proper regulation would ensure safety standards for firecrackers are met, providing better protection for consumers.
This call for reform follows a recent appeal by children’s commissioners from Suhakam on March 18. The commissioners urged authorities to strengthen enforcement against illegal explosives after a four-year-old boy suffered severe injuries and lost several fingers in a firecracker blast.
The commissioners highlighted a rising trend of children being injured by illegal fireworks and suggested a review of the Explosives Act 1957 to impose stricter penalties on those involved in the illegal trade. Currently, police only permit the sale of 45 specific types of fireworks under the Happy Boom and Pop-Pop brands.
Addressing demand and cultural practices
Criminologist P Sundramoorthy from Universiti Sains Malaysia explained that efforts against illegal firecrackers have been largely ineffective due to high demand, informal markets, and general cultural acceptance. He noted that the low perceived risk of punishment has weakened the deterrent effect of current laws.
Sundramoorthy warned that a total ban on fireworks might further strengthen black markets, particularly when such prohibitions conflict with long-standing social traditions. He noted that lighting firecrackers is deeply rooted in Malaysian festivities, with many people justifying the practice as a rare annual occurrence despite it happening across various celebrations throughout the year.
To more effectively combat the illegal trade, Sundramoorthy recommended intelligence-led enforcement that targets the entire supply chain, including import routes, storage centers, and distribution networks.
While he agreed that regulating fireworks is a positive step, he emphasized that parents and guardians must be legally required to supervise children under the age of 16 when they are playing with any fireworks.
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