Govt wont budge from implementing smoking ban - Health Minister

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- The government will not budge from implementing the smoking ban imposed on all eateries despite facing opposition and criticism from smokers, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said today.

“Of course we won’t backtrack. We will deal with the opposition and we know there is a judicial review regarding this,” he said, adding that the ban would be better enforced to ensure the health of non-smokers, especially senior citizens and young children, was not affected by secondary smoke.

“We too have the Attorney-General and legal experts assisting us and ensuring that we do not budge or back down from this (implementing the smoking ban),” he told a press conference at his ministry here.

He said that since the enforcement of the ban on Jan 1, a total of 13,724 warnings had been issued and 75,280 people advised until yesterday.

He added that Health Ministry enforcement personnel also visited 30,548 eateries, including 24-hour outlets, during the same period, and issued 76,274 pamphlets.

He also said that the ministry would not consider allowing smoking at eateries after 10 pm as that would be seen as taking one step back.

As for proposals that restaurants set up a special place for smokers in their premises, Dzulkefly said that would depend on their creativity and it had to be three metres away from their premises.

He also revealed that Sabah was ready to enforce the smoking ban, saying: “Sabah has agreed and we will leave the implementation to them. I am confident Sarawak will do the same.”

Sabah today announced that the ban will come into force on Feb 1.

-- BERNAMA