KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur City Hall will meet restaurant operators and related parties this week to discuss at length the requirements and implementation of the newly proposed designated smoking areas.
Mayor Datuk Nor Hisham A Dahlan said City Hall would obtain suggestions and feedback from stakeholders.
“We have been receiving complaints from restaurant owners that business has been affected by the smoking ban.
“So we will meet them, along with residents’ associations, non-governmental organisations and related parties to discuss this.”
He said City Hall was drafting the criteria for the designated smoking areas, adding that feedback from stakeholders would be taken into account.
He said there were 15,000 restaurants in the city, but it was impossible to have that many smoking areas.
He said City Hall officers would be sent to assess the areas proposed by stakeholders.
“We want a win-win situation. The smoking areas will not be built indiscriminately. For example, they won’t be located next to schools.”
Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin had announced that local authorities that wish to set up smoking areas in public places within their jurisdiction could apply for allocations from the ministry.
The move was met with guarded optimism by Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association president T. Muthusamy, who said the association would need to study the requirements for the smoking areas.
He said businesses were hit hard by the smoking ban and urged the authorities to concentrate on raising awareness.
“Devise new methods to educate smokers on health risks, but at the same time, enforcement should also be firm on the sale of illicit and single stick cigarettes.”
Smokers rights group Smokers Awareness Group Malaysia said the ministry’s move would be well-received by smokers, non-smokers and business operators.
Its chairman, Mohd Hanizam Yunus, said this was a “win-win” decision for all parties.
“This was among suggestions presented to the Health Ministry in a three-page recommendation at the end of 2018. Unfortunately, the ministry never got back to us, forcing us to go to the court.”
He said among the suggestions were for the ban to be imposed only indoors.
Bukit Bandaraya Residents Association adviser Datuk Mumtaz Ali criticised the ministry’s decision, saying it was a step backward.
“What a shame. On one hand, the Health Ministry is trying to create a smoke-fee environment, but the Housing and Local Government Ministry is instead trying another recipe.
“People are discouraged from smoking, but with a designated area, you are not helping them quit the habit. Plus, if the designated area is inside a residential area, it will be a hassle for residents. Hawkers may set up stalls next to the smoking area.”
He said if the ministry went on with the plan, the location of smoking areas should be decided only after consultation with the local community.