Designated smoking areas not allowed in eateries
BATU GAJAH: Food premises are not allowed to provide designated smoking areas within the business operations area.
Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said the smoking ban was within 3m of the premises.
“If an eatery provides a designated smoking area outside the premises, it does not fall under the authority of the Ministry of Health (MoH) but the local authority.
“We have had discussions with the local authorities. The Ministry of Housing and Local Government may consider allowing eateries to provide ashtrays for cigarette butts,” he said at a press conference to announce a ‘Health and Blood Donation’ campaign at the Batu Gajah Parliamentary Community Service Centre here yesterday.
Dr Lee said eateries would have to comply with the restaurant operating licence issued by local authorities, and stern action would be taken if the rules were flouted.
In a separate development, Dr Lee said lack of awareness among the public of the importance of early cancer detection was among the causes for the rising number of new cases.
According to statistics, 95 per cent of cancer can be treated with early detection.
“However, cancer can be difficult to treat once it has entered the fourth stage,” he said.
He said initial screening for cancer could be done at the health clinic through mammogram and pap smear tests as well as blood stool screening for colorectal cancer.
On Friday, Health directorgeneral Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah reported that there was an increase in the number of new cancer cases over five years from 2012 to 2016, with 115,238 cases detected, versus 103,507 cases for the same period from 2007 to 2011.
The rate for cancer cases is 86 cases per 100,000 male population, and 102 cases per 100,000 female population.
According to the same report, the top 10 types of cancer detected among Malaysians for the period 2012-2016 were breast, colorectal, lung, lymphoma, nasopharynx, leukemia, prostate gland, liver, uterus and ovary.
Subsequent analyses by gender found that the highest rates of cancer in men were colorectal cancer, lung cancer and prostate gland, while in women it was breast cancer followed by colorectal and cervical cancer. — Bernama
SIBU: A total of 1,871 summonses were issued during the inspection of 23,135 premises nationwide in the first four days of the full enforcement of the smoking ban, reveals Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye.
Nevertheless, despite the issuance of summonses, he observed good compliance among owners of premises.
“Out of these summonses, only 491 summonses were issued to owners of premises which constitute about two per cent of the number of premises inspected.
“This means that 98 per cent of premises complied,” he told
The Borneo Post yesterday when asked on the compliance level of the country’s smoking ban which came into effect on Jan 1.
Towards this end, he assured that the Ministry of Health will carry out more random checks on coffee shops amid complaints that some customers continue to violate the smoking ban.
He also reminded that eatery operators will also be compounded if they are found to be providing ashtrays at their premises.
The fine for first-time offenders is RM250 which will be reduced to RM150 if the fine is settled within a month.
For the second offence, offenders will also be slapped with a RM250 fine, while third and subsequent offenders will be compounded RM350.
Failure to settle the compound within 90 days of the date of issuance will result in offenders being charged in court where they can be fined RM10,000 or jailed up to two years.
Meanwhile, a random observation at coffee shops here yesterday found no patrons flouting the smoking ban.
The ‘No Smoking’ sign was also conspicuously displayed at these premises to remind patrons of the smoking ban.