A thorough study has to be carried out before enforcing smoke-free zone in all coffee shops because its implication can backfire if not done carefully.

Assistant Minister for Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil said there were various aspects that local councils needed to consider, including regulations and enforcement.

“Whatever you want to enforce, you must have a strong enforcement unit and agency to ensure your ruling is complied with. For example, with the ‘no smoking’ sign, if there is no enforcement officer around, people will still smoke. What is the use. We have to study very carefully the implications before we implement it.

“But I agree that in certain restaurants which are air-conditioned – it is wise to enforce the ruling because you are also protecting the interest of other customers. But in open spaces and open places frequented by the public, I think they have to think of the implications.

“In addition, the Ministry of Health needs to declare and amend the general definition of non-smoking areas (to include non air-conditioned food outlets) and gazette them under the law before enforcement comes in,” Penguang told The Borneo Post yesterday.

He said the businesses of local communities, especially in small towns, would be affected if the move was implemented.

Penguang said this when asked whether other local councils would follow Kuching City North Commission (DBKU) to enforce smoke-free zone in all coffee shops, public toilets and open spaces in its areas of jurisdiction from Jan 1 next year.

Datuk Bandar of Kuching City North Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai has said the exercise jointly run with the state Health Department was more like an educational programme to discourage people from smoking in eateries.

DBKU, he said, was implementing the measure under its own initiative as it had indicated its intention last year.

“The Ministry of Local Government ought to be consulted and advice sought before doing so,” the Marudi assemblyman said. He said in restaurants, it was up to the operators to take the initiative of whether their premises should be declared  smoking-free areas.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Peter Boon

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