DEWAN Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof was not informed about the implementation of the smoking ban which came into place on Monday.

Minister in charge of parliament Liew Vui Keong said the speaker is the individual who overlooks the Parliament and makes a decision on what can or cannot be done in the building.

“I understand that the speaker was not informed of the notice and the implementation of the smoking ban,” he said, adding that he, too, was not informed about the matter.

Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad had announced that Parliament House had been declared a no-smoking zone from Monday.

Both the designated smoking zone and the dining area in the building were now smoke-free areas.  

Liew also advised the ministry to make a courtesy call on the speaker to inform him the plan to ban smoking in the building.

As of today, eight people have been fined for smoking inside Parliament, including an MP.

The fines were issued under the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004. – October 18, 2018.