Association adheres to government’s decision

KUCHING: Kuching Coffee Shops and Restaurants Owners Association will adhere to the Sarawak government’s decision in not imposing the smoking ban across all eateries until further discussions are carried out between the Sarawak Health Department and the stakeholders.

“We are fully aware that secondhand smoke is detrimental to the people’s health. As such, we would only like to request that the Health Department standardise the design for the smoking ban notice, and provide it for free for use in the eateries,” its chairman Teo Giap Liew told a press conference at their office in Jalan Petanak here on Tuesday.

Teo said proper education and awareness programmes ought to be carried early so that the public are aware of the dangers of smoking if the government is serious in promoting a healthy lifestyle among the people.

He believed that all government policies should only be implemented after intensive consultation with the stakeholders are carried out to achieve a win-win situation for business owners and the government.

We are fully aware that second-hand smoke is detrimental to the people’s health. As such, we would only like to request that the Health Department standardise the design for the smoking ban notice, and provide it for free for use in the eateries. Teo Giap Liew, Kuching Coffee Shops and Restaurants Owners Association chairman

“Only coffee shops and restaurants having the permit can sell cigarettes to the public.

“While customers will be fined RM10,000 or jailed for two years for smoking within our premises, it is totally ridiculous that we, the business owners, should also be fined RM2,500 for the offence. What kind of logic is that?”

He also felt that they ( business owners) might be threatened by violent customers if they strictly implemented the smoking ban in their premises.

“Who should be responsible if any of our members are roughed up by this kind of customers? Should the Health Department be held responsible?”

On another note, he said the recent increment of the minimum wage in Malaysia to RM1,100 would only add to the burden of business owners.

“The coffee shops and restaurants industry is different from other industries for we have to provide accommodation and meals to the workers, totalling about RM1,300 a month each.”

Teo also hoped that the government would propose solutions to assist business owners while safeguarding the interest of the working population now that the country is faced with slower economic growth, weak market and rising inflation.

“Without government assistances, our members might have to retrench their workers to bring down cost or even close up shops.

“This worst- case scenario will definitely increase unemployment in the country, and impact the development of the country’s economy.”