By Fiqah Roslan
11 premises gazetted as smoke-free zones in KK
KOTA KINABALU: Eleven premises near the state capital have been gazetted as smokefree zones with Blue Ribbon certification as part of the Health Ministry’s initiative to reduce smoking among Malaysians.
They include Nuluhon Garden Resort Inanam, The Crown Borneo Motel 23 Tanjung Aru, Likas Square Apartment Hotel, Seventh Day Adventist Church, One Hotel Lintas Jaya, One Hotel Sadong Jaya, Perdana Park Tanjung Aru, Hotel Sixty 3, The Palace Hotel, University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Rural Medical Education Centre and Grandis Hotels and Resorts Sdn Bhd. These premises were recognised as smoke-free zones after voluntarily complying with criteria for Blue Ribbon recognition, said Kota Kinabalu health officer Dr Jiloris @ Julian Frederick Dony.
“Premises that volunteer to be part of the Blue Ribbon campaign must ensure that their area is free of cigarette smoke and does not promote smoking.
“Once the criteria have been complied with, the premises will receive a certification which is valid for two years, after which the premises is subject to an audit to continue to be gazetted as a non-smoking area,¨ he said at a recognition ceremony at Grandis Hotel here yesterday.
Dr Jiloris said the campaign was to promote a healthier lifestyle, adding that patrons who visited designated smokefree premises would be pleased, especially those who did not like or were allergic to cigarette smoke.
He expressed hope that more premises will follow suit, adding that it would be good for restaurants to volunteer for Blue Ribbon certification as well.
“Everyone is aware that cigarette smoke contains carcinogens that could impose long-term effects on health.
“We at the ministry hope that gazetted Blue Ribbon premises will continue promoting a smokefree lifestyle for better health in the long run, to prevent chronic illnesses like cancer,” he added.