Smoking prohibited at all sports complexes
KOTA KINABALU: The ban on smoking in public eateries is sweeping the country by storm and people all over Malaysia are reacting to the new regulations, including Sabah.
For the past two days, Sabahans have been doing well to adhere to the nation-wide ban. Law-abiding citizens have been helping to spread awareness of the implementation of the new regulation which took effect on January 1.
Most smokers in the State are still happy to comply with the ban despite the confusion brought on from the state government’s stance of not enforcing the regulation until a cabinet meeting is held next week.
Newly-appointed general manager of Sabah Sports Board (SSB), Terrance Edward Pudin said the introduction of the new regulation was seen as an opportunity to remind people that smoking is prohibited in all SSB’s facilities.
“We support whatever position the local government takes on this matter and we just want to remind the people that smoking at the stadium or at other sports facilities under our care is strictly prohibited.
“It has always been prohibited although some people ignore it. In lieu of the new regulation, we would like to remind people again that smoking is strictly prohibited,” Terrance, who was previously director of the Sabah Sports Council, told The Borneo Post this when contacted here, yesterday.
He said although it was difficult to conduct any kind of enforcement, Terrance said the board would rely on the people’s good judgement not to smoke when using their facilities.
“We are seeing good compliance in public eateries these past two days. We hope that such compliance would extend where applicable and in this case, at public sports facilities under our care.
“I think Sabahans understand why the federal government is tightening regulations on smoking in public areas and I believe most people are happy to comply. We hope they will show the same understanding when they use our facilities,” Terrance said.
A total of 13 sports complexes all over the state are under purview of SSB.
According to Terrance, overseeing such huge infrastructure is not easy especially where enforcement personnel are needed.
“At best we can do is make announcements at the stadiums to remind people that smoking is prohibited. This is usually done during football matches in Kota Kinabalu but there is not much we can do if they ignore the announcements.
“But the nation-wide ban (on smoking in public eateries) has created greater awareness including in Sabah and we hope the people will show compliance not just at the stadiums but in all our public sports facilities,” he said.