A TOTAL of 3,419 notices were issued nationwide for smoking in eateries from January until Sunday, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said. 

He said Terengganu had the highest number of violations with 652 notices, followed by Pahang (601), Sarawak (365), Perak (356) and Kuala Lumpur (303).

Khairy said the notices were issued under Section 32B of the Enforcement Regulations of Tobacco Control 2004.

“The Health Ministry has intensified anti-smoking enforcement activities in all eateries, especially now that the government has allowed dine-in again,” he said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur today. 

All eateries, including air-conditioned and open-air diners had been gazetted as smoke-free areas effective January 1, 2019 under Regulation 11(1)(d) of the Tobacco Control Regulation Regulations 2004 (Amended) 2018.

Khairy said the smoking ban was not intended to punish smokers but to prevent complications due to smoker habits as well as passive smokers.

He said the ministry is committed to helping smokers kick the habit.

Registration for the mQuit integrated quit smoking service can be done via www.jomquit.com. – Bernama, October 26, 2021.