Penang to be smoke-free in five years

GEORGE TOWN: In the next five years, Penang aims to become a smoke-free state, says state health, agriculture and agro-based industry and rural development committee chairman, Afif Bahardin.
He said the initiative was being carried out under its Smoke-Free Penang (Penbar) programme.
The programme's focus was on protecting the people of Penang from the dangers of cigarette smoke, he said after opening the state-level World Tobacco Day 2018 here today.
Also present were state health director, Dr Wan Mansor Hamzah and National Cancer Society of Malaysia chairman (Penang branch), Datuk Seri Dr T. Devaraj.
Six public and recreational parks in the state had earlier been gazetted as non-smoking areas followed by the Georgetown World Heritage Site in 2015.
Afif said there was some resistance from shop owners, restaurants and hotels on the matter but it would be discussed with the parties concerned for positive outcome.
"While we are serious about our mission in prohibiting smoking in all public areas, there will be special areas reserved for smokers to puff," he added. — Bernama