Penang to retain its designated smoking spots within the heritage enclave.
‘We must be compassionate towards smokers and their rights’
GEORGE TOWN: While all eateries nationwide will be declared as no- smoking zones next year, Penang will retain its designated smoking spots within the heritage enclave.
State Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said smokers had their rights as long as they smoked at a designated spot.
“We respect the rights of smokers and non-smokers.
“We know smoking is not good and can cause many diseases, but it is their choice.
“They must be compassionate and considerate towards non-smokers.
“More than 80% of the people in the state support our non-smoking movement.
“The smokers are usually old timers and tourists.
“It is a bad habit but I have met many people from the older generation who told me smoking is their only form of entertainment.
“We must be compassionate towards them,” he said yesterday.
When asked about the Health Ministry’s recent declaration on all eateries, including open-air restaurants and street food stalls, as no-smoking zones effective Jan 1, Phee said the man on the street and the man in the office are different.
“The law is made for the people, the people must benefit from it.
“We do enforce non-smoking but it will take years,” he said.
On the poor condition of the many yellow semi- circles marked with a smoking sign in the heritage enclave, Phee said the Health department has been notified but there was not enough funding.
“They have to do the maintenance, but they do not have allocat- ed funds,” he said.
There are about 30 yellow semi-circles marked with a smoking sign set up away from where people congregate in the heritage enclave here in 2016.
Enforcement of the no-smoking law throughout the world heritage site except for private homes began on Jan 1, 2016.
While smoking corners are common in airports and hotels, George Town is believed to be the only no-smoking city in Malaysia that has little corners of refuge for smokers.
The corners are not roofed, so the smoke will dissipate quickly and you will have to carry your own portable ashtray.