MP among 8 fined for smoking in Parliament building

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 16 Oct 2018 12:30PM · 4 Comments

The Parliament building is now a smoke-free zone, and the restaurants are next to bar smoking on their premises. – October 16, 2018.

A MEMBER of Parliament was among eight people fined yesterday for smoking in the Parliament building, which is now a smoke-free zone.

Each offender received a compound of RM500 under the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004, failure to settle which could earn them a RM10,000 fine or two months in jail or both.

Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad declined to name the MP caught lighting up.

The minister yesterday announced that Parliament was a smoke-free zone with immediate effect. Vape and e-cigarettes are also included in the ban.

All the designated smoking rooms were closed and enforcement was carried out in the MPs’ lounge,  cafeteria and an air well, which had led to the eight being fined.

Dr Dzulkefly in a press conference today stressed the government was serious about banning smoking in all restaurants, which would no longer be permitted to designate areas for smokers on their premises.

“If we prepare a smoking area, we return to the problem of passive smoke which is also dangerous,” he said.

The nationwide ban on smoking at all eateries starts n January 1.

Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye last week announced that restaurants included coffee shops and hawker stalls by the side of the road. – October 16, 2018.

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Comments

  • Good job..just make sure the ban is enforced all the time otherwise they will go back to smoking again in those areas. I remember once at the Home Ministry Putrajayas cafeteria, I saw people smoking right under the no smoking sign. Nobody bothered to obey the ban because there was no enforcement.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lily Cheong · Reply

  • GOVERNMENT BETTER BAN CIGARETTES SALES THROUGHOUT MALAYSIA. SMOKE FREE. EVERY BODY CAN BREATH IN FRESH AIR.

    Posted 5 years ago by CHEE Meng Ng · Reply

  • What the hell is the matter with some people? The moment they are given a position in government they turn into control freak zombies, issuing useless, unnecessary & copycat laws left & right & making life unbearable for others who might enjoy a smoke or a drink without being labeled a lawbreaker & penalized. Attacking smokers may be an easy way to look righteous & concerned but to me anyonbe who resorts to that is ultimately a scoundrel of the lowest order & absolutely benighted to boot. Might as well pass a rulin g making parliamentarians wear white socks & shoes if you're going to behave like some braindead species of strict schoolmaster.

    Posted 5 years ago by Antares Maitreya · Reply

    • Agreed absolutely.!!!! Priority are misplaced!!!!

      Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply