Yes, you can smoke at Malaysia’s main airports — including indoors after security: KLIA1, klia2 and Penang keep airside smoking rooms, and Kota Kinabalu has designated smoking areas past the checkpoint. Malaysia’s law, the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), bans general indoor smoking and allows airports to run designated smoking facilities.
Malaysia Airports Compared: Before and After Security
Before security, you can always smoke outside: at a designated smoking area where there is one, or outside the airport property, beyond the terminal kerb and car parks. After security, Yes means there is a smoking area past security and a dash means none is listed. Each airport’s page has the details.
| Airport | Before security | After security |
|---|---|---|
| Johor Bahru (JHB) | Yes | – |
| Kota Kinabalu (BKI) | Yes | Yes |
| Kuala Lumpur (KUL) | Yes | Yes |
| Kuching (KCH) | Yes | – |
| Langkawi (LGK) | Yes | – |
| Penang (PEN) | Yes | Yes |
For travellers, Kuala Lumpur is the airport that matters most. KLIA1’s Satellite Building has smoking rooms on the Mezzanine Level near Gates C11 and C31, accessible to international transit passengers. klia2 (the AirAsia budget hub) has a smoking room at Level 2 of its Satellite Building in Sector 6, airside.
How Malaysian Airport Smoking Works
Malaysian law bans general indoor smoking and permits designated airport smoking facilities under Act 852, in force since October 2024. In practice:
- Airside options at the big hubs: KLIA1 (smoking rooms near Gates C11/C31), klia2 (Sector 6 room), Penang (room near Gate A6), Kota Kinabalu (Level 3 departure areas)
- Landside: designated outdoor areas at KLIA1, klia2, Penang, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching; Kuching is landside-only since its airside room closed
- Follow the marked signage in Bahasa Malaysia and English to the designated areas
Malaysia’s Act 852 also tightened vaping regulation; airports continue to permit vaping in the same designated smoking areas and rooms as cigarettes.
The Major Hubs
Kuala Lumpur International (KUL/KLIA1). Malaysia’s primary international gateway, opened 1998. The Main Terminal Building handles full-service carriers; the Satellite Building (connected by Aerotrain) handles wide-body international flights. Smoking rooms on the Satellite Building Mezzanine Level near Gates C11 and C31 — airside, accessible to transit passengers. The MAS Golden Lounge also has a smoking room, and the MTB has landside outdoor areas.
klia2. The dedicated budget terminal opened 2014, primarily serving AirAsia and AirAsia X. Smoking room at Level 2 of its Satellite Building in Sector 6, airside. Sometimes confused with the older Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) which was demolished.
Other Malaysian Airports
Penang International (PEN). Airside smoking room near Gate A6, next to Old Town Coffee, after security, plus designated outdoor areas landside. Penang serves both domestic and international flights.
Kota Kinabalu (BKI). Sabah’s main airport. Designated smoking areas on the Level 3 domestic departure floor after security, a smoking room at international arrivals, plus Level 1 areas and outdoor spots outside the terminal.
Kuching (KCH). Sarawak’s main airport. Outdoor areas landside only — the former airside smoking room was closed by the Ministry of Health.
Johor Bahru / Senai (JHB). Southern Johor’s gateway, across the causeway from Singapore. Travellers described a smoking room in March 2025, and in February 2026 placed it in the departure hall, on the terminal’s first floor — see the airport page for details.
Langkawi (LGK). The duty-free island’s single-terminal airport. Designated outdoor smoking areas outside the terminal, landside only — the interior is smoke-free.
Tips for Smokers at Malaysian Airports
- KLIA1’s Satellite Building smoking rooms near Gates C11 and C31 are the airside smoking spots
- klia2 Sector 6 has an airside smoking room for budget carrier passengers
- Penang (Gate A6 room) and Kota Kinabalu (Level 3 areas) also keep airside options; Kuching is landside-only
- For tight connections at Kuching, plan to wait until your next smoking opportunity
- Vapes are regulated under Act 852 and belong in the same designated areas as cigarettes
- Tropical heat means outdoor smoking can be uncomfortable in midday; morning/evening better
- Heat-not-burn devices follow the same rules as cigarettes — including the airside smoking rooms