KUCHING: The Health Ministry through the state Health Department will start monitoring eateries throughout Sarawak to ensure that they comply with the smoking ban.
This is following the decision by the Sarawak State Cabinet on Thursday to enforce the smoking ban at all eateries in the state effective March 1.
Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye in welcoming the decision said he together with the state Health Department thanked all concerned, who were involved in ensuring the smooth implementation of the ban.
The Health Ministry has gazetted all food premises nationwide as No Smoking Zones effective Jan 1. Sarawak and Sabah, however, delayed the implementation pending decisions by their respective state Cabinets.
The ban was in line with the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations (Amendments) 2018 to protect the public from exposure to cigarette smoke.
Dr Lee said briefing to business owners and food premises operators, which was carried out since Oct last year, on the smoking ban would be continued alongside educational enforcement activities through distribution of educational materials and face-to-face counselling with the smokers.
