KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has clarified that the Sarawak state government is supportive of the federal government’s public smoking ban, which will come into effect on Jan 1, 2019.
Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (pix) said he had reached out to Sarawak’s Housing and Local Government Minister Sim Kui Hian and the latter is in full support of the enforcement.
“I am pleased that Sim and the Sarawak government fully support the health ministry’s efforts in amending the smoking prohibition regulations involving air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned dining places including open-air ones,“ Dzulkefly said in a statement.
He added that Sarawak would make the necessary amendments to its local council regulations so as to be in line with the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004.
Sim had said in a statement that he meant the matter came under the purview of the state’s own regulations which must be amended if the smoking ban is to come into force.
Smokers are only allowed to smoke 3m away from the eateries.
Offenders can be fined RM10,000 or jailed two years. Restaurant owners can also be fined RM5,000 or six months jail if they allow smoking on their premises.
