NGOs, health bodies unhappy over govt plans to allow smoking areas

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 11): More than 50 professional health bodies and non-government organisations (NGOs) are not happy at all about government plans to allow designated smoking areas outside eateries and in public areas.

According to a report by The Star today, the 56 organisations stated that “while they were not against providing a place where smokers can dispose of their cigarette buds, specially designated smoking areas can make it appear that the government is normalising the smoking habit”.

"The whole of Malaysia is a smoking zone except for the 23 prohibited areas, such as food outlets, hospitals, government offices and commute stations.

"Almost in 90% of the country, you can smoke. So, it doesn't make sense, and it is a waste of taxpayers' money to designate smoking zones.

"In other countries, it is different. You can't smoke anywhere, except for the designated smoking areas," Malaysian Public Health Physicians' Association president Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar was reported saying by the daily during a media conference at the National Cancer Society Malaysia office today.

He added that that while there has been “a positive change in de-normalising smoking over the years, anti-smoking campaign efforts should be continued”.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Council of Tobacco Control (MCTC) deputy president Shaari Ahmad Junid said

Malaysian Council of Tobacco Control deputy president Shaari Ahmad Junid said while “it was acceptable for the government to designate smoke-free areas, it should however, not to build special areas for smokers”.

Earlier this week, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said all the 155 local authorities across the country can build designated smoking areas in selected public places, especially at food courts.

“The ministry will ask all 155 local authorities nationwide to provide special smoking areas in appropriate places. They can apply to the ministry for the allocation to set up the facility,” she said.

This was to satisfy the smokers and show that the government was concerned with their plight, she said, adding that enforcement would be carried out by Health Ministry officials.

Zuraida said, owners of food premises who want to set up smoking areas not far from their outlets at their own expense, need to obtain permission in addition to following the guidelines issued by the local authorities.