Effective immediately, the no smoking law will now limit smoking zones to further discourage smoking among Malaysians.
For a long time now, smoking has been generally prohibited on public transportation and specified facilities (health, education, government) but allowed in designated smoking areas in air-conditioned eating places, non-air-conditioned public transport terminals, etc. But that changed when a new Control of Tobacco Product (Amendment) Regulations 2017 was enforced last week.
According to Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, the new law has increased the smoking ban in more locations. As such, smoking zones in open-air public transport stops, air-conditioned food outlets, and stadiums are going to be completely smoke-free now. This also means that all restaurants in Malaysia are completely smoke-free.
This adds to the list of strictly no-smoking zones which includes all rest and recreation stops along highways and sheltered walkways in the Kuala Lumpur city centre, which span a total of about 23km.
The new smoking law also affects camp sites, game courts, playgrounds, and public parks. A move that echoes Penang’s decision to enforce a smoking ban on 19 public and national parks in August last year, which applies to those who smoke cigarettes, vape, or any kind of product that contains nicotine.
For now, the only exception is open-air public car parks. If found smoking in no-smoking zones, smokers could be fined up to RM10,000 or jailed up to 2 years if convicted.
Source: The Star Online.
