Smoking ban begins tomorrow, 6-month grace period

KUCHING: Beginning tomorrow (March 1) the smoking ban will be enforced at all eateries in the state and the start of a 6-month grace period.

Kuching City South Council Mayor Dato James Chan Khay Syn said the 6-month is an educational period for both smokers and eateries.

“If the health enforcement sees a person smoking in an eatery, he/ she will be given some educational advice of the smoking ban.

“For MBKS, we have put up posters in many places in the city, to discourage smoking. With this smoking ban, we the city council are for the people, our government is also for the people. Whatever strategy they have, it’s for the people, so we go along with it,” said Chan at a press conference after chairing the full council meeting at MBKS here, yesterday.

On the smoking ban, he said the Health Enforcement officers would monitor its enforcement.

Asked if the ban could be permanent after the 6-month grace period, he said its full enforcement would depend on the state to issue the directives.

“I can’t answer you on that right now, maybe after the 6-month grace period, it is good that there is some grace period, in a friendly way,” he said.

As of now, smokers are still allowed to smoke but to do so 3 metres or 10 feet away from the restaurants or the ‘Kopitiams’.

“Look at Japan as an example, they allow customers to smoke but do it outside. Same goes to China, they are now focusing in health for the people. Health is becoming very important.

“Developing country like Malaysia, less smoke maybe better, always good to discourage, because it is detrimental to our own health,” he said.

The smoking ban was imposed in Peninsular Malaysia on January 1, 2019 with Sabah opting to impose it on February 1 and Sarawak on March 1, 2019.

Once the ban is fully enforced, those caught smoking in prohibited areas will be fined up to RM10,000 or face up to 2 year’s jail while eateries found to have allowed customers to light up will be slapped with a maximum fine of RM2,500.