THE half-hearted enforcement of smoking ban at eateries with errant diners happily puffing away after their meals – seemingly forgetting about the existence of such ban and oblivious to the displeasure of other non-smoker diners – will eventually be a thing of the past.
This is because the Health Ministry (MOH) is aware and seriously wants to clamp down on such menace following the rise in complaints of smoking at prohibited venues especially eating premises that have gone viral on social media.
“Smoking ban enforcement activities are carried out periodically in all states across the country,” MOH pointed out in a statement posted on its Facebook page.
Overall, as many as 12,773 operations were implemented throughout 2022 while for this year alone, 4,113 operations have been conducted as of end-March 2023.”
A total of 30,648 compound notices worth RM7.6 mil have been issued throughout 2022 for offences of smoking at restaurants until while as of end-March 2023, 13,331 compound notices worth RM3.3 mil have been issued.
The five states with the highest issuance of smoking offences at eateries throughout 2022 are Selangor (6,414 notices), Johor (3,095 notices), Pahang (2,935 notices), Perak (2,808 notices) and Penang (2,725 notices).
“MOH would like to emphasise that the smoking ban is not intended to punish smokers but is implemented to prevent complications stemmed from smoking habit to smokers as well as passive smokers in their surroundings,” noted MOH.
“Users of e-cigarettes or vapes are not exempted (from the smoking ban ruling) for they can also put people around them at risk according to a recent study conducted internationally.
“Therefore, smokers and users of electronic cigarettes or vape are called upon to stop smoking according to treatment methods recognised by the Health Ministry. Registration to mQuit smoking service can be made through the website www.jomquit.com.”
Yesterday (May 13), the Federal Territory Health Department of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya staged a mega integrated operation involving its enforcement officers as well as officers of the Disease Control Department, the MOH Inspectorate and Legal Sector, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and police personnel from the district police headquarters of Cheras, Wangsa Maju, Brickfields and Dang Wangi.
A total of 125 compound notices under Section 32B of the Food Act 1983 were issued with total compound estimated at RM31,500. – May 14, 2023
