KUCHING: Sarawak will enforce a smoking ban in accordance with the Local Government Ordinance.
Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said Sarawak will have its own smoking ban taking into consideration its circumstances and local government ordinance and by-laws.
“Just like immigration, we have our own immigration rights.
“As a cardiologist, I have been advocating the anti-smoking habit my whole professional life and will continue to do so,” he said in a statement here yesterday.
He was disappointed with some sensationalised misrepresentation that Sarawak was not for anti-smoking.
“Smoking is very bad for health not only for smokers but also for non-smokers (second hand smokers). We had to do a lot more on all tobacco products not just by legislation but also holistically,” he said.
Dr Sim said that as a Sarawakian, he must make sure Sarawak’s interest was duly safeguarded and adequately protected under the law especially under MA63 and the Federal Constitution.
A local English daily quoted Sim as having said a smoking ban to be enforced by the federal government from Jan 1 next year does not apply to Sarawak unless the Sarawak government adopts the new policy.
