Smoking ban: Whose call?
Dr Sim says smoking ban cannot be enforced in Sarawak unless the Local Government and Housing Ministry approves the federal directive
KUCHING: The smoking ban at all eateries to be enforced by the federal government from Jan 1 next year does not apply to Sarawak unless the Sarawak government adopts the new policy. Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said Sarawak has its own Local Government Ordinance to adhere to and the new policy introduced by the federal government has to be adopted by the Sarawak government prior to implementation. Despite the announcement by the Ministry of Health ( MoH) to enforce the smoking ban next month, he stressed that this is “part o f our own autonomy”. “Unti l we adopt ( the smoking ban), it is not applicable (in Sarawak) . We have our own L oc a l Government
Until we adopt (the smoking ban), it is not applicable (in Sarawak). We have our own Local Government Ordinance. Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian Local Government and Housing Minister
Ordinance,” he said yesterday when asked about the role of his ministry in implementing the smoking ban from Jan 1, 2019.
Dr Sim acknowledged that “smoking is bad” for health but also pointed out that “coffee shop is (under the jurisdiction of) Local Government”.
Malaysia is expected to enforce the smoking ban at all eateries, air- conditioned and non- a i r - condi t ione d , including restaurants, coffee shops, open- air hawker centres and street stalls from Jan 1 next year.
Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye announced this during a forum at the Asian Institute of Medical, Science and Technology in Kedah last October.
Those found smoking at prohibited areas will be fined RM10,000 and eateries found not enforcing the ban will be fined RM2,500.
It has also been reported that the MoH is pushing to gazette all open- air restaurants as nosmoking areas.
The ban is not only to encourage smokers to kick the habit but also to protect non-smokers from second-hand tobacco smoke.
Dr Lee was quoted as saying: “No doubt smokers will say they have the right to smoke, but nonsmokers also have the right to have smoke-free areas.”
The smoking ban is Malaysia’s commitment as a member state to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control while adhering to the guidelines under Article 8 of the World Health Organisation.
Malaysia’s current Control of Tobacco Product (Amendment) Regulations 2017 prohibits smoking in 21 areas including hospitals, public toilets, lifts, government premises as well as air-conditioned shops and offices.