Tawau council to help instill awareness on smoking ban at eateries
TAWAU: Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) will help to instill awareness and help campaign on the smoking ban at eateries that will be enforced starting February 1.
TMC president Alijus Sipil said: “TMC does not have the power to issue compounds as only the Health Department enforcement officers have the power. However, TMC will help by telling smokers not to light up at eateries and cancelling licences of business operators that are not complying with the ban.”
On whether TMC would be providing bins for smokers, he said the council had not proposed the matter.
He advised smokers not to throw their cigarette butts anywhere as they could be compounded under the anti-litter by-law.
He added eatery operators are welcome to allocate bins three metres from their premises for smokers to discard their cigarette butts.
Meanwhile, non-smoker and activist, Jhasarry Kang said the enforcement of the smoking ban should have taken effect and fully enforced in the whole country starting January 1 this year.
He said the law should be applicable to all without any compromise and questioned why there should be any differences to certain state when it is about public health in general.
“I think there should not be any exception. It is about public issue and smoking ban should be maintained for the benefit of all whether they are smokers and non-smokers. It is a fact that smoking is not good for health as it can cause cancer and death in long term if not taken seriously. It is a wastage of public fund if monies spent for treating them in the long term,” he said.
He said the smoking ban is good for people from all walks of life including the children who are still young and fragile. “If people don’t change their attitude about the bad thing of smoking cigarette, then it is better to let the law take its own course for the benefit of all.
“It is also important,” he said that the enforcement of law on the ban.
“The enforcers themselves and the legislative of law must realize that they themselves should not break the law as well or compromise it. They should set a good example to all.”
On the penalty, he said community service should be given due consideration for those who break the law on the smoking ban. Perhaps, the offenders can sweep the street or spread awareness like to remind others about bad side of smoking.
PKR Tawau branch vice chairman Gan Chee Chan said there is no difference of the date of enforcement which is February 1, because if it was immediately enforced and that many supported it rather than making it a political issue.
Who would feel comfortable when there were cigarette smokes at beverage and restaurant premises, he asked.
“Even our children and wife are not comfortable and it is the same with members of the public,” he said.
Meanwhile, a smoker welcomed the nationwide smoking ban for the sake of his daughters’ health.
Jeremy Sherween Zabala, 27, said he will no longer have to worry about daughters, Josefina Zaphyre Zabala, four, and Janelle Zasha Zabala, two, being exposed to the dangers of secondhand smoking at eateries and other affected areas like shopping malls.
“At least when I bring my girls out they will no longer be exposed to smoke,” he said.
“We usually go to the airconditioned areas at eateries,” he added.