KUALA LUMPUR: Eatery owners and operators are ready for the implementation of the smoking ban with the no-smoking signage and notices having been put up at their respective premises, although they have more two days to do so before the ban comes into force.
A survey conducted by Bernama over the past three days at several popular eateries found high level of compliance by the operators.
A worker at a nasi kandar restaurant in Ampang, Abdul Kareem Ismail, 32, said the smoking ban signage at the premises had been put up for quite some time and the restaurant had no problem in complying with the regulation.
“In this restaurant, the no-smoking notices and signage have been around for quite some time, but customers ignored the. Recently, we put up more and bigger signage, hopefully this time, they will heed it.
“Hopefully, the smokers will sit at the tables placed outside the restaurant when they come to eat or drink,” he added.
A vendor at a food court in Cheras, Rahman Iskandar, 25, said he realised some changes to the behaviour of his customers in the past few months, following the smoking ban campaign.
“I think more people are aware of the rules because the regular customers have started to smoke outside the eateries area or in the parking area. Some customers, especially those with young children, are even bold enough to tell of those who smoke in the food court,” he said.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan said the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had installed the no-smoking signage at most buildings, including government premises.
“We have installed many no-smoking signage in the city, with the big ones at several locations, including on the large screen at Dataran Merdeka and also in Bukit Bintang.
“To date, about 3,000 notices and posters have been issued by DBKL’s Health and Environment Department and the Department of Environment at open food premises in the city since January this year,” he told Bernama.
Nor Hisham said 200 enforcement personnel will be mobilised to carry out inspection at food premises in the city to ensure compliance.
Beginning Jan 1, 2020, the ban on smoking in open-air premises under Regulation 11(1)(d) of the Tobacco Control Regulations (PPKHT) 2004, will be enforced with legal action to be taken against errant smokers. - Bernama
