Day 2 sees nearly 5,400 warned against smoking in a restaurant

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 2 Jan 2019 11:07PM · 2 Comments

The law against smoking in a restaurant is in effect, starting January 1. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, January 2, 2019.

ENFORCEMENT officers gave 1,453 people warning letters and 3,879 some friendly advice against lighting up as the smoking ban in restaurants goes into its second day.

Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said 611 enforcement personnel have visited 2,786 eateries, including 24-hour outlets, as of noon today.

“Ministry enforcement personnel have been reminded not to issue compounds during the first six months and to only issue warning letters,” he told a press conference at his ministry here today.

After the grace period, offenders will be fined up to RM10,000 or jailed up to two years.

The law against smoking in a dining establishment went into effect on the first day of the new year. Dr Dzulkefly said the majority of the offenders pleaded ignorance of the ban.

He said as of noon today, 7,451 pamphlets on the ban had been distributed.

“It’s not that they are completely banned from smoking. If they need to smoke, they should move away from others,” he said, adding that he was happy to see on social media photos of smokers taking a puff three metres away from others. – Bernama, January 2, 2019.

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Comments

  • The grace period should only be for a month. Six months is too long.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lily Cheong · Reply

  • Have we all gone insane? RM10,000 fine, two years jail for practising a religious rite? The origins of smoking are spiritual in nature, a conscious celebration of the love between Mother Earth and Father Sky, conjoined by the love within the human heart. Humans have always been divided between priestly doctrines and shamanic ceremonies. Dr Zulkeflys missionary zeal to eradicate the pleasure of eating, chatting over a drink and a few ciggies indicates that the priestly mob are now in charge with their killjoy puritanism and faux paternalism. Soon we will have to smoke, joke and poke in secrecy. It will be a hell on earth our children inhabit!

    Posted 5 years ago by Antares Maitreya · Reply