KUCHING: A survey by the Society for Cancer Advocacy and Awareness Kuching (SCAN) reveals that the nationwide indoor smoking ban policy has strong public support, but enforcement remains a significant challenge.
An overwhelming 97.5 per cent of respondents are aware of the ban, but 48.1 per cent of respondents frequently observed violations of the ban, indicating persistent compliance issues.
SCAN president Chris Cheng stressed the need for more effective enforcement to maximise the policy’s health benefits.
“These survey results are encouraging as they demonstrate strong public support for the smoking ban.
“However, the findings also highlight the need for more effective enforcement to ensure the policy achieves its full potential in protecting public health,” he said.
The online survey, which assessed the ban’s impact since its January 2019 implementation, identified inadequate enforcement (32.9 per cent) and habitual smoking (36.9 per cent) as primary non-compliance reasons.
Most respondents rated the smoking ban enforcement as poor (55.6 per cent respondents) and 24.7 per cent rating it as fair.
Despite enforcement issues, 88.9 per cent of respondents strongly support the smoking ban, with 64.2 per cent strongly agreeing it has improved public health by creating a healthier environment in public places.
Implemented by the Malaysian government in 2019 to combat the health risks of non-smokers and second-hand smoke, the policy aimed to create smoke-free public spaces like restaurants and cafes.
The survey indicates the ban is a positive step towards a healthier Malaysia, but improvements in enforcement and public education are needed.
SCAN encourages policymakers and public health officials to use this data to enhance tobacco control measures and promote a smoke-free environment nationwide.
View the full report here: https://www.scan.org.my/2024/06/22/report-on-the-impact-of-the-malaysian-smoking-ban-survey-results/.
