Six public parks in Sandakan gazetted as non-smoking areas effective June 1

SANDAKAN: Six public parks under the Sandakan Municipal Council are gazetted as non-smoking areas effective June 1.
The parks are the Tun Abdul Razak Memorial and Pavilion Park, Harbour View, Sea View, IJM Batu 6, Padang Bandaran and Sandakan Municipal Council Square.
Sandakan district health officer Dr Johari Awang Besar said the proclamation was aimed at protecting the non-smokers from the dangers of passive smoking.
He said it was in line with Rule 11 (1) of the Control of Tobacco Products (Amendment) Regulations 2017 that came into force for public parks across the country starting Feb 1.
Those caught flouting the rule were liable for a RM250 maximum compound and offenders could also be fined up to RM10,000 or imprisonment not exceeding two years upon conviction, he told reporters here today.
Johari said the proclamation (of the parks as non-smoking areas) was in accordance with Rule 11 (1) that smoking was also banned in public places such as open air public transport stops and terminal; air-conditioned food outlets; and stadiums that had been listed as 100% non-smoking areas, from cigars, any tobacco products and e-cigarette.
He said since the enforcement of no-smoking areas in the district, 64 compounds had been issued in the first four months of this year.
He said that many compounds were issued at the Sandakan airport and government buildings. — Bernama