RESTAURANT operators who are concerned that the smoking ban will affect their businesses may prepare a special area for smokers with approval from local authorities, said Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin today.

The smoking area should be placed outside of the premises and at least three metres from the nearest dining table, to abide by the Health Ministry’s rules, she added.

Operators will have to bear the cost of preparing the smoking area, Zuraida told the press at an event in Putrajaya today.

“If they worry that their businesses will be affected with the smoking ban in force, they should invest in preparing a special area for smokers.

“They will need to go through the local authorities first to ensure they follow guidelines on food premises.”

Zuraida denied any conflict with Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye, who two days ago, said the Health Ministry had no plans to allow special smoking areas within eatery premises.

He said if eateries prepared special smoking zones beyond three metres from their premises, these areas would be under the jurisdiction of the local council, and not the Health Ministry.

Zuraida today said her ministry has plans to allocate money for designated smoking zones in 155 municipalities.

These designated zones will have roofs with bins to collect cigarette butts, costing RM5,000 each.

“We already have one such designated smoking area in Ampang prepared by the municipal council,” she said, referring to her parliamentary constituency.

“We want to do this so smokers know the government is also listening to them, and that society will better accept the government’s no-smoking rules.” – January 7, 2020.