Scan all for stricter, immediate smoking ban

KUCHING: Society for Cancer Advocacy and Awareness (Scan) Kuching is imploring the Sarawak government to implement a stricter version of the smoking ban as soon as possible if it doesn’t follow the ban instituted by the federal government and Ministry of Health ( MOH) affecting non air- conditioned coffee shops, restaurants, open air hawker centres and stalls come Jan 1 2019.

Scan said it saluted the federal government and MOH on this giant brave step and looks forward to the Sarawak government to enforce the same or a stricter ban in Sarawak immediately.

“It is everyone’s right to live in a healthy environment be it at home, workplace, schools, eating places, recreation grounds or, to sum it, all public places,” its president Sew Boon Lui was quoted as saying in a press statement.

“We would like to think that Sarawak is a progressive state with a progressive government where the general health of its people, both physically and mentally is of utmost importance by adopting, providing and implementing a smoke free environment for healthy living.” Sew said.

“We urge Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian to work towards implementing an even stricter smoking ban in Sarawak immediately,” she added while noting that Dr Sim is a medical doctor as well as an MP for the people.

“We feel that Dr Sim should immediately commence adopting an even stricter policy than the federal government and MOH if he doesn’t want to implement the MOH’s policy this coming January. As the Sarawak government is keen for more autonomy, Sarawak should utilise state funds to improve its cancer healthcare especially in terms of access to treatments,” she said.

Scan was founded through the joint effort of a group of cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and concerned professionals.

“Our vision is to be the voice for all cancer patients to improve access to high quality health care. To do this, we work in partnership with the government, particularly the health care institutions and related government agencies, in order to safeguard the needs and welfare of cancer patients in Sarawak,” the press statement said.

The statement observed that medical research has shown that smoking and second-hand smoke lead to lung cancer which leads to death. New cases of lung cancer are being diagnosed everyday and Sarawak is not spared either, it added.