Health Ministry seeks ‘partners’ to enforce eatery no-smoking ban
FROM Jan 1, members of the public can either call 03-8892 4530 to lodge a complaint, or send video recordings of smokers at restaurants to the ministry. But they shouldn’t expect any rewards.
THE Health Ministry has “commissioned” the public to be its “eyes and ears” when the smoking ban at restaurants and eateries comes into effect starting Jan 1.
Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said the public could lodge their complaints to the ministry via its hotline at 038892 4530.
“During this enforcement period, it’s important that this is not done just by the ministry but also with the cooperation of the public.
“The government is widening the scope of non-smoking zones, not just to bring down the number of smokers but also to protect the rights of those who do not smoke so that they will not be exposed to secondhand smoke,” he said after a luncheon with the Perak Chinese Schools Council Committee yesterday.
To those hoping to get “commissions” for spying on errant smokers and reporting them, Dr Lee told the New Straits Times that they could consider it as “public service, for the benefit of all”.
He said the ministry’s enforcement drive in the first six months would lean towards advising stubborn smokers.
However, he said that did not mean that smokers should take the ban lightly. Asked if the ministry’s 5,000-strong enforcement team would be sufficient to enforce the law, Dr Lee said the ministry would “strategise” the deployment of officers nationwide. Full enforcement would take place after six months via regular patrols and with help from the public.
“We will arrange the deployment of our enforcement officers. In the first six months, we need to increase enforcement efforts.
“However, enforcement action in these six months will focus on educating the public and restaurant owners so that they are aware of the ruling and hopefully, they will respect the ban. After six months, there will be patrols to check on the smoking ban.”
Asked if restaurant operators could designate smoking zones on their premises, Dr Lee said it was possible, but these smoking zones must be built 3m away from the dining area.
Dr Lee told the public to refrain from sharing videos of smokers puffing away in non-smoking zones but to send them to kkm@moh.gov.my.
There are more than five million Malaysians aged 15 and above who smoke, according to the 2015 National Health Morbidity Survey.