KUALA LUMPUR: Diners can still smoke following enforcement of the smoking ban at eateries.... so long as they stay 10 feet (3m) away from restaurants as they puff.
This was the advice by Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye to patrons who still wish to smoke after the ban comes into force nationwide in January.
This was his response to concerns raised by operators of eateries on whether they could set up a special smoking zone within the eateries when the ban comes into effect.
“That would not be appropriate and goes against the FCTC (World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) guidelines. We are not in favour.
“We explained (to restaurant operators) that smokers can still smoke as long as they are 10 feet away from the non-smoking zone,” he said.
He was speaking during a press conference at Parliament today.
It was reported that the Ministry would enforce the smoking ban at all restaurants and eateries beginning Jan 1.
From that date, patrons caught smoking in eateries would be fined a maximum RM10,000 or jailed up to two years, while restaurant operators who failed to put up no-smoking signs face a fine not exceeding RM3,000 or jail time up to six months.
Meanwhile, Lee said that restaurant operators were required to take away ashtrays from dining tables and put up no-smoking signs in accordance to specification put forth by the ministry.
He noted though that in the event of a recalcitrant customer who refused to abide by the no-smoking ban and ignored the restaurant staff’s urging them not to smoke, the operators could call a special ministry hotline to seek assistance from its officers.
“If there are smokers who refuse to heed them, the premises owner can call the ministry’s hotline and lodge a complaint.
“This is to enable enforcement officers to go to the eatery (and deal with the culprit),” he said, adding that the 24-hour hotline number was 03-88924530.
Lee said that with the expected gazetting of eateries as non-smoking zones in January, the ministry had conducted 63 briefings with 3,142 restaurants and eatery operators.
“Most of the eatery operators and associations who attended the briefing agree with and support the Health Ministry’s efforts to protect the public from the danger of smoke from cigarettes and other smoking products,” he said.
Lee pointed out that beginning Jan 1, enforcement of the smoking ban at eateries nationwide would be carried out by the ministry’s 5,008 environmental health officers and assistant officers.
He said however that for the first six months following implementation of the no-smoking ban at restaurants, the ministry would focus more on issuing warnings to smokers and eatery operators who go against the ban.
“We wish to implement the ban in a way that educates society to stop smoking,” he said. -- Reporting by Hidir Reduan Abdul Rashid, Rohaniza Idris, and Norlela Zulkifli