Smoking ban will hit poor Sabahans hard, state minister says

Jason Santos Jason Santos Updated 7 years ago · Published on 31 Dec 2018 5:41PM · 15 Comments

Kota Kinabalu Mayor Nordin Siman says even though the smoking ban is a federal law, authority over business premises comes under the local government. – The Malaysian Insight pic, December 31, 2018.

SABAH will not enforce Putrajaya’s ban on smoking at eateries tomorrow and wait for the state cabinet to decide on the matter, state Local Government and Housing Minister Jaujan Sambakong said.

He said Sabah needed to consider “many poor Sabahans” who smoked and who would not be able to afford the stiff fines.

“This matter must be thoroughly discussed.

“Imagine if they were penalised; would they be able to pay the heavy fines? Many will end up in jail. Our jail cells won’t be enough,” he told The Malaysian Insight today. 

Eatery patrons who defy the rules can be fined a maximum of RM10,000 or jailed not more than two years.

Eatery operators can be fined a maximum of RM3,000 or jailed not more than six months for failing to post “No Smoking” signs.

For failing to stop patrons from smoking, operators can be fined a maximum of RM5,000 or jailed not more than one year.

State Health Ministry vehicles in Sandakan used to announce the smoking ban with a loud hailer. – The Malaysian Insight pic, December 31, 2018.

Health Ministry officials have been going around announcing the ban in Sabah, despite the state government’s earlier announcement that it would not comply with the move.

Ministry vehicles had also been seen in several towns announcing the ban with a loud hailer.

Jaujan said there were other measures to educate smokers on the dangers of the habit, and they would be raised in the state cabinet meeting. 

Newly appointed Kota Kinabalu Mayor Nordin Siman also agreed that the smoking ban could only be implemented once a directive from the state government was given. 

“The state has its own by-laws and, although it’s a federal law, authority over business premises comes under the local government. In our case, (Kota Kinabalu) City Hall is under the Chief Minister’s Department,” he said. 

Sabah Health and People’s Well-being Minister Stephen Wong had also said the ban must be reviewed by the state cabinet before it could be enforced. – December 31, 2018.

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Comments

  • Silly excuse. If he can afford cigarettes then he can afford to pay the fine. If he cannot afford the fine then dont smoke and if he has to smoke, then smoke far away from the eateries so he doesnt get fined. So simple can not understand meh?

    Posted 7 years ago by Lily Cheong · Reply

  • Stupid minister.
    You should educate them. Knowing they are already poor why don't you educate them to stop smoking and stop burning their hard earn money!

    Posted 7 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply

  • Just walk out to an open area where people are not eating and smoke as much as you want. This is such simple logic. No one needs to suffer anything.

    Posted 7 years ago by Sin Fook Choo · Reply

  • We certainly sympathise with this problem. As such, may I suggest Sabah to suspend all traffic laws lest they burden poor Sabahans who may not be able to pay fines and have to go to jail. MPKK would also so well to scrap all parking bylaws in case poor Sabahans can't afford to pay the fines.

    Posted 7 years ago by Léon Moch · Reply

  • Idiot talking.

    Posted 7 years ago by Kenneth Tan · Reply

  • Why should we obey everything Malaya tells us. We should be autonomous!

    Posted 7 years ago by Roy Thomas · Reply

    • A pack of duty not paid cigarettes, only RM 3 Poor man can afford to smoke. I am smoker too but I welcome the new law as long as they don't ban it in pubs. If the Sabah government is able to claim all the oil royalties that had been owed to them, plus the 40% of tax. Sabahans can enjoy free public parking. Sabah and Sarawak are 2 of richest states in Malaysia comparable to Brunei. And the largest contributor to the Nation's income. Sadly Sabah and Sarawak are the least developed states in Malaysia. Go figure.

      Posted 7 years ago by Samuel Wong · Reply

  • The stupidity of humans is staggering. Instead of more laws we need fewer - that's the measure of a sane & mature administration.

    Posted 7 years ago by Antares Maitreya · Reply

  • A pack of duty not paid cigarettes, only RM 3 Poor man can afford to smoke. I am smoker too but I welcome the new law as long as they don't ban it in pubs. If the Sabah government is able to claim all the oil royalties that had been owed to them, plus the 40% of tax. Sabahans can enjoy free public parking. Sabah and Sarawak are 2 of richest states in Malaysia comparable to Brunei. And the largest contributor to the Nation's income. Sadly Sabah and Sarawak are the least developed states in Malaysia. Go figure.

    Posted 7 years ago by Samuel Wong · Reply

  • How do you insert those emojis. Hahaha!

    Posted 7 years ago by Mr Anderson · Reply

  • This guy I nominate for https://darwinawards.com/

    Posted 7 years ago by Mr Anderson · Reply

  • Adoi, I cannot believe this kind of logic can come out from the mouth of mayor. KK is doomed under such a mayor.

    Posted 7 years ago by Jacob Hong · Reply

  • ni bodoh tahap apa kah ini? i can not brain his lame excuses and yet people elected him as their leader..so?

    Posted 7 years ago by Khairul Anuar · Reply

  • wadda.. pathetic excuse..

    Posted 7 years ago by Mazlan mastan · Reply

  • Every decision made has pros and cons,pro is cleaner air,cons is less customer.kl eateries parking are always not enough,but now i see a lot of slot is available...

    Posted 7 years ago by Ken Ken · Reply