Costly smoke!

Over RM228,000 collected in fines last year
No-smoking zone
OUT OF BOUNDS: Smokers puffing outside their work station at a local mall
PETALING JAYA: Make sure you don't light up in non-smoking zones for Health Ministry officers are keeping tabs, having taken over 6,000 offenders to court last year.
And more strict enforcement is taking place as the ministry is stepping up efforts to curb the habit among Malaysians, who remain nonchalant about the threat.Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin told The Malay Mail that 854 offenders were fined on the spot last year and the ministry had collected RM228,870 in fines from them.While none were slapped the maximum RM10,000 fine yet, she warned it was only a matter of time.
She said 6,175 violators were charged in court for offences under the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations, including smoking in designated non-smoking areas.She said the ministry carried out several enforcement activities both at the regional as well as national level, including five nationwide thematic enforcement operations, to book smokers violating tobacco product regulations.This enforcement continues to be carried out by officers at State health departments and district he
Blatant disregard for anti-smoking laws
PETALING JAYA: Hardcore smokers remain defiant and continue to openly flout rules by lighting up at clearly marked no-smoking zones.When The Malay Mail approached a man lighting up in front of a "No Smoking" sign at University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), he sheepishly admitted: "I'm used to smoking here since I have no other place to smoke within the hospital compound."
He said he worked at one of the buildings at UMMC and was aware of the smoking ban in the area. He agreed strict enforcement should be conducted against offenders.He also promised not to smoke within the hospital compound again.Lack of enforcement continues to be the main reason why many continue to light up in smoke-free zones, lamented a shopowner at Amcorp Mall here.








The law with regards to smoking restriction and total ban in designated public places  will continue to be a  controversial issue. To those who do not smoke , and have never smoked, often feel like there is no reason not to employ a public smoking ban. Smokers, however, feel like it is a personal right to be able to smoke in public, and the smoking ban issue is important and personal for them.
The disagreement surrounding a motion to ban smoking in most  public places has been around for a while. Malaysia being one the nation that agreed to tobacco usage restriction and in fact a  signatories to the WHO, gradual implementation  on tobacco usage amongst the young people.
In Malaysia, we only observed the role in implementing the "no smoking" areas, so with the restrictive law in tobacco consumption is MOH. Maybe to certain extent the local council licensing and enforcement  division where there are certain officers having concern of the tobacco menace.
Not to forget those fag manufacturers they are also the main entity going against  any restrictive law enacted on cigarette smoking, money they have. Many at time engaging legal experts to look into any loop hole on the restrictive law where they can manipulate and take advantage from it.
In actual fact  there are active lobbying amongst the law makers,NGOs with these tobacco giant, see how their subtle approach in suppressing further restrictive law through their so call "engagement" and "social reporting".
In order to have more impact the government should now emulate what other countries are doing. Time has come , just like selling liquor , cigarettes and tobacco related product must acquire a license to dispense. Of course with strict rules and regulation attached.