Comments

• Moronic. Typical conventional thinking thats mired in falsities. It will not encourage smokers to quit as pressure and agitation only drive smokers to need nic & tar. Rights notwithstanding, to profit from a taxable substance and then regulate it on the basis that its harmful to public is hypocritical. And lastly you forget where you are - come January once enforcement starts watch UMNO cash in on this idiocy. Perhaps deservedly so. Predicting a a backpedal in the first two weeks of this stupidity.

  Posted 5 years ago by P P · Reply

• Bravo !

  Posted 5 years ago by Yoon Fatt Ng · Reply

• Why moronic? In Europe, they have successfully implemented smoking ban in pubs and restaurants. It all boils down to whether we have the political will to do the right thing. Polluting other people's space is a no-no.

  Posted 5 years ago by Yok Foo Yap · Reply

• Is this why humans elect representatives to parliament - to pass oppressive fuddy-duddy killjoy laws that only serve to criminalize the ordinary citizen while allowing corporate giants off the hook? If you are so convinced that smoking is deletrious to health, why not ban the manufacture of cigarettes outright? But then we have seen that anything made illegal will swiftly turn into a lucrative illicit trade controlled by the underworld. In effect, we don't need you, Dr Lee Boon Chye, to make pompous and self-righteous pronouncements against smokers just because you are not yourself addicted to tobacco. The reason why so many young Europeans enjoy traveling in Asia is because they feel a sense of freedom from suffocating laws against this, that and the other. Imposing strict anti-smoking laws will only serve to increase stress levels and resentment towards the whole concept of government. I can guarantee you it will in no measure improve the overall health of the general population. In fact, what might achieve that is to reduce the negative effects of bureaucracy on the collective psyche by reducing all forms of government to a bare minimum - so that people like you, Dr Lee, will no longer be able to play Little Napoleon with others while getting paid a good salary by those of us who enjoy a quiet smoke. And don't even talk to me about "secondary smoke"! Shut down all the oil refineries first and ban the internal combustion engine before taking a swipe at a mosquito with a sledgehammer.

  Posted 5 years ago by Antares Maitreya · Reply

• Dear Editor,
  
  The regulations for Occupation Safety and Health prohibits all drivers from smoking, "Merokok adalah dilarang semasa memandu, menaik dan menurunkan bahan di tempat pelanggan kecuali di tempat yang telah dikhaskan untuk merokok". However we encounter smokers without hesitation lighting up while driving, loading, unloading, waiting.
  
  All taxies and buses are No Smoking zones but we see daily public transport drivers smoking including while plying passangers though regulations prohibit smoking under Land Public Transport Commission Act.
  
  Also regulations governing food handling prohibits food handlers from any activities that are not hygienic while food preparation, cooking, serving but restaurant allow smoking ont only the patron but no less those handle the food.
  
  The cashier smokes beside the food buffet spread. Waiters smoke while waiting, in between serving customers; cooks seen smoking within kitchens, ... The restauranteur association urged for space for smokers but don't they realise that they are in food business where hygiene and food safety is their duty, as well to ensure safe environment for their own workers.
  
  Goverment implemented circulars on No Smoking in 80s followed with Conttol of Tobacco Products Regulation 2004 under the Food Act 1983 with all goverment buildings prohibited for smoking. Yet we find personnel smoking within hospital grounds and educational premises.
  
  We often blame for lack of enforcement for rampant flouting but we disregard the responsibility of the heads of department and persons in-charge of the premises and work place who are duty bound under the law to ensure compliance.
  
  Once I asked an OCPD about smoking in police stations, as I sensed strong smell of cigarette smoke within police station (any police station). He replied, its under the health department.
  
  In another occassion encountering a exhibition booth by Department of Occupational Safety and Health, asked their role to ensure work place free from tobacco smoke. Again I was told its the responsibility of Ministry of Health.
  
  Such attitude of public servants inclined to protect their turf and disregards public policies should change for the interest of rakyat.
  
  National Steering Committee on Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) do not include Ministry of Human Resource and Ministry of Transport, which have important role in ensuring protection from exposure to tobacco smoke. Sadly for inclusivity, only one civil society is invited to sit in this national steering committee, when FCTC 'emphasises the special contribution of Non-governmental organisations and other members of civil society not affiliated with the tobacco industry, including professional bodies, women's, youth, environmental and consumer groups, and academic and healthcare institutions, to tobacco control efforts nationally and internationally and the vital importance of their participation in national and international tobacco control efforts.'
  
  We urgently need commitment by all those involved in tobacco control to be proactive, progressive, open to reduce the current smoking prevalence that stagnates at 23% for past 30 years. We need to change the way we did all these while.
  
  Muhammad Sha'ani bin Abdullah
  Mentakab
  Tel : 013-3363647

  Posted 5 years ago by MUHAMMAD SHAANI Abdullah · Reply

• Dear Editor,
  
  The regulations for Occupation Safety and Health prohibits all drivers from smoking, "Merokok adalah dilarang semasa memandu, menaik dan menurunkan bahan di tempat pelanggan kecuali di tempat yang telah dikhaskan untuk merokok". However we encounter smokers without hesitation lighting up while driving, loading, unloading, waiting.
  
  All taxies and buses are No Smoking zones but we see daily public transport drivers smoking including while plying passangers though regulations prohibit smoking under Land Public Transport Commission Act.
  
  Also regulations governing food handling prohibits food handlers from any activities that are not hygienic while food preparation, cooking, serving but restaurant allow smoking ont only the patron but no less those handle the food.
  
  The cashier smokes beside the food buffet spread. Waiters smoke while waiting, in between serving customers; cooks seen smoking within kitchens, ... The restauranteur association urged for space for smokers but don't they realise that they are in food business where hygiene and food safety is their duty, as well to ensure safe environment for their own workers.
  
  Goverment implemented circulars on No Smoking in 80s followed with Conttol of Tobacco Products Regulation 2004 under the Food Act 1983 with all goverment buildings prohibited for smoking. Yet we find personnel smoking within hospital grounds and educational premises.
  
  We often blame for lack of enforcement for rampant flouting but we disregard the responsibility of the heads of department and persons in-charge of the premises and work place who are duty bound under the law to ensure compliance.
  
  Once I asked an OCPD about smoking in police stations, as I sensed strong smell of cigarette smoke within police station (any police station). He replied, its under the health department.
  
  In another occassion encountering a exhibition booth by Department of Occupational Safety and Health, asked their role to ensure work place free from tobacco smoke. Again I was told its the responsibility of Ministry of Health.
  
  Such attitude of public servants inclined to protect their turf and disregards public policies should change for the interest of rakyat.
  
  National Steering Committee on Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) do not include Ministry of Human Resource and Ministry of Transport, which have important role in ensuring protection from exposure to tobacco smoke. Sadly for inclusivity, only one civil society is invited to sit in this national steering committee, when FCTC 'emphasises the special contribution of Non-governmental organisations and other members of civil society not affiliated with the tobacco industry, including professional bodies, women's, youth, environmental and consumer groups, and academic and healthcare institutions, to tobacco control efforts nationally and internationally and the vital importance of their participation in national and international tobacco control efforts.'
  
  We urgently need commitment by all those involved in tobacco control to be proactive, progressive, open to reduce the current smoking prevalence that stagnates at 23% for past 30 years. We need to change the way we did all these while.
  
  Muhammad Sha'ani bin Abdullah
  Mentakab

  Posted 5 years ago by MUHAMMAD SHAANI Abdullah · Reply