OBJECTIVES: To assess the perceptions of the general public in Malaysia about the importance of drug labeling.  METHODS: A cross sectional study using pre-validated questionnaire was undertaken with a convenient sample of general public in the State of Penang, Malaysia. All data was analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 12.0. Inferential statistics were used whenever appropriate at alpha value of 0.05 or less considered significant.  RESULTS: A total of 365 respondents had participated in the survey. Majority of them agreed that drug labeling is important to any person dispensing medicines (74.8%), caretakers (76.26%), health care professionals (77.8%) and patients (80.6%). Besides, they believed that it is important to ensure all drug labels are not vaguely claimed to improve quality of life (54.2%). Majority of respondents agreed that incorrect dosage instructions on the drug label would result in worsening the quality of life (73.2%). Majority of respondents (58.4%) believed that drug labeling is highly important to ensure safe and effective drug use. Majority also expected that all drug products and controlled medicines should be labeled with product name (97.5%), active ingredients (78%), date of manufacture and expiry (87%), and dosage (95%). From their past experience, 21% of them mentioned that they seldom get their drugs labeled whereas 14% of the total respondents were not sure whether they get their drugs labeled or not. In this study, gender, age, and level of education showed significant associations with most responses (p<0.05).  CONCLUSIONS: General public in Malaysia are aware about the importance of drug labeling and about one fifth of the population surveyed rarely receive their medicines labeled appropriately. Therefore, decision makers have to strictly enforce the existing drug labeling requirements for dispensed medications.