KUCHING: Be responsible and considerate of others! This is a clear message from Kuching South City Council (MBKS) to smokers who puff cigarettes in public places. Mayor Datuk James Chan (pic) said apart from causing health issues to others, some smokers were also found to discard the butts indiscriminately. He warned that stern punishments would be meted out against these smokers. “In my opinion, every citizen who likes to smoke in public places should be responsible and considerate while being with other people around them.
“Apparently, health-related illnesses due to cigarette and smoke related products have a negative financial impact on the country, especially in the city and the government is going all out to ban smoking in public places wherever it can be legally enforced,” said Chan when contacted by New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
He also noted that the ‘No Smoking’ ban was good for public health and could ensure fresh and clean air especially in city centres. “According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), smokers and second-hand smoke can cause others their health and well-being. Even for smokers themselves,” he said.
He also pointed out that should the urgency for smokers to smoke in public places arise, they should do so in an allocated smoking zone and be responsible by not throwing the cigarette butts indiscriminately. “If they get caught by the law enforcers, the offenders will be compounded,” he added. He also advised smokers not to smoke in crowded areas.
In September this year, Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye announced that his ministry was pushing to gazette all open-air restaurants as “no smoking areas” under the Control of Tobacco Product (Amendment) Regulations 2017. The current Control of Tobacco Product (Amendment) Regulations 2017 prohibits smoking in 21 areas including hospitals, elevators, public toilets, government premises as well as air-conditioned shops and offices.
