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Hokkien Malaysians will celebrate the 'Pai Ti Kong' festival starting on the eve of the ninth day of Chinese New Year, a celebration often marked by fireworks and firecrackers.
But is setting off these loud displays legal in Malaysia, especially after police warnings issued just days before CNY began last week?
Before we can answer the question, here is exactly what Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus said on 15 February.
According to him, only firecrackers and fireworks by Pop-Pop and Happy Boom are allowed to be set off, and vendors selling them are required to obtain a permit from their respective district police stations.
"Anyone who possesses, sells, buys, or plays with firecrackers and fireworks other than those permitted can face action under Sections 7 and 8 of the Explosives Act 1957 (Act 207)," Fadil said.
He added that members of the public cannot play with firecrackers and fireworks past 12am, as doing so can cause a public nuisance or danger. Violators can be charged under Section 13 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 (Act 366) and Section 7 of the Explosives Act 1957.
Datuk Fadil Marsus.
Image via BernamaSo, what does the law actually say about enforcing these rules?
Section 7 of the Explosives Act 1957 pertains to attempting to cause an explosion, or making or keeping explosives with the intent to endanger life or property.
Meanwhile, Section 8 of the same Act addresses the making or possession of explosives under suspicious circumstances.
Conviction under either provision carries a penalty of up to seven years' imprisonment, a fine of up to RM10,000, or both.
As for Section 13 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 (Act 366), a person may be fined up to RM100 for causing excessive noise between 12am and 6am.
Section 3 of the same Act empowers the chief police officer to designate specific days, hours, or areas in which fireworks may be set off. In other words, whatever the police say goes.
What are the permitted firecrackers and fireworks by Pop-Pop and Happy Boom?
In a statement on the first day of CNY, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said only 45 products under the two brands are permitted, as stipulated in the 2025 Explosives (Prohibition) Notification.
Here are all the 45 products listed in the document published in January last year:
1. Happy Boom Glow of Sunset: 30cm; cylindrical; 100 sticks per box
2. Happy Boom Sun Sparkles (iron fireworks): 16.5cm; iron wire stem; 8 sticks per pack
3. Happy Boom Glories (paper fireworks): 18cm; small cylindrical; 50 per pack
4. Happy Boom Fountain: 17.5cm; conical
5. Happy Boom Peacock Fountain: 2cm; cylindrical; 6 per box
6. Happy Boom Happiness Fountain: Cylindrical; 6 per box
7. Happy Boom Ground Boom Flower: 7.4cm; cylindrical; 50 per box
8. Happy Boom Firework: 12.5cm; cylindrical; 6 per box
9. Happy Boom Top Gun: 1.5cm; round; 50 per box
10. Happy Boom Camelia Flower: 2.2cm; round; 12 per box
11. Happy Boom Flower Silver Cracking Rain: 40cm; cylindrical; 6 or 12 per box
12. Happy Boom Pili Cracker: 3.2cm; cylindrical; 12 per box
13. Happy Boom Colour Sun Sparkle (iron fireworks): 46cm; iron wire stem; 6 per pack
14. Happy Boom Dush 30 (Roman Candle): 40cm; cylindrical; 12 per box
15. Happy Boom Tikus 50 (50 missiles): 7cm x 4cm x 8cm; rectangular; 50 barrels
16. Happy Boom Bee (bee or wasp firecrackers): 2.5cm; cylindrical (bee-shaped); 12 per box
17. Happy Boom Mini Ice Cream (Fountain): cylindrical; 6 per box
18. Happy Boom Pili Cracker 3 Minutes: 3.2cm; cylindrical; 6 per box
19. Happy Boom Matches: 4cm; cylindrical (match-shaped); 10 per box
20. Happy Boom Sky Dragon: 3.2cm; cylindrical; 24 per box
21. Happy Boom 14 Inches Besi (iron fireworks): 36cm; iron wire stem; 8 per pack
22. Happy Boom Cili Padi (board of firecrackers): a box with 26 units of fireworks
23. Happy Boom Sunset Bar: 41cm; cylindrical; 50 or 100 per box
24. Happy Boom 10 Shoots (Roman Candle): 30cm; cylindrical; 6 per box
25. Happy Boom 10 Inch Ice Cream (Fountain): 25.4cm; conical; 2 per pack
26. Happy Boom 8 Shoots Roman Candle: 30cm; cylindrical; 6 per box
27. Happy Boom 15 Inch Ice Cream (Fountain): 38cm; conical; 2 per pack
28. Happy Boom Party Popper (confetti): 72 units of fireworks per box
29. Happy Boom 13 Inch Conic (Fountain): 33cm; conical; 2 per pack
30. Happy Boom Banana Hujan: 12cm; cylindrical; 6 per box
31. Happy Boom Banana Kecil: 12.7 cm; cylindrical; 6 per box
32. Happy Boom Dush 20 (Roman Candle): 40cm; cylindrical; 6 or 12 per box
33. Happy Boom Birthday Candle: 15 cm; cylindrical; 1 stick (5 per pack)
34. Happy Boom Red Cracker (8 inches) (Chinese Firecracker): 4cm units; cylindrical; 2.4m long
35. Happy Boom Assorted Celebration Cake Repeater (battery firecracker): cylindrical; 49 shots
36. Happy Boom Shoot Cake (battery firecracker): cylindrical; 16 shots
37. Happy Boom Shoot Cake (battery firecracker): cylindrical; 36 shots
38. Happy Boom Thunder Clap (rocket firecrackers): 5cm; cylindrical; 3 per pack
39. Happy Boom (Top Gun UFO): 2.2cm diameter; cylindrical with fan-shaped objects; 24 per box
40. Happy Boom Moon (battery firecracker): 5cm; cylindrical; 12 per pack
41. Happy Boom Shoot Cake: cylindrical; 25 shots
42. Happy Boom Assorted Celebration Cake Repeater (battery firecracker): cylindrical; 138 shots
43. Pop-pop: pellet-shaped; 50 per box
44. Happy Boom Celebration Red Fire Cracker (dragon firecrackers): cylindrical (33ft comb); multi-unit comb
45. Happy Boom Red Cracker (Cake) (long board firecrackers): cylindrical; multi-unit comb
If the fireworks you possess do not match any of the names above, you are violating the Explosives Act 1957.
What's the final takeaway?
You can set off fireworks or firecrackers, limited to the 45 approved products, between 6am and 11.59pm.
This means you could be fined up to RM100 under Section 13 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 for setting off these loud displays past 12am during Pai Ti Kong.
You may want to consider starting earlier and stopping right at midnight.
SAYS has reached out to several Hokkien associations across Malaysia for comment but has not received a response at the time of publication.
