KUCHING: The smoking ban, which will be enforced effective today in Sarawak, has been met with mixed feelings by the public here.
Muni, 54, and her husband, Kasih, 55, who own an eatery near Riverside Hotel in town, just want smokers to be considerate by not puffing in their premises following the enforcement of the ban.
“They can smoke as long as it’s not inside. We do not sell cigarettes and we have already put up ‘No Smoking’ signs at our shop,” Muni said.
Muni observed that most coffee shops had already put up ‘No Smoking’ signs in their premises.
“Rather than pay the hefty fines of RM10,000 and RM2,500, it’s better not to smoke inside the premises,” Kasih quipped.
A woman, who was smoking with her friends and relatives at a coffee shop nearby, was not happy with the ban.
“We smokers of course do not agree. If the Sarawak government wants to enforce the ban, they should also stop the sales of cigarettes.
“That would be fair. No smoking means no revenue from the sales of cigarettes,” she said.
“It’s good for the public and for the people in general,” said Idris Razali, 52, an interior designer, who is not a smoker.
Security guards, Man, 30, and Boboi, 19, were in favour of the ban although they both smoke.
“It’s good. We should consider the public, especially pregnant women and children as it’s not healthy,” said Boboi.
Taxi driver, Zam, 46, said smoking is a personal choice.
“As far as I know, the government said it would educate offenders for six months for the first offence.
“And if they are caught again, then they will be fined.
“But most smokers, of course, don’t agree with the ban. Keeping smokers three metres away is not that far. They should increase the distance from the no-smoking area.
“Most tourists are not aware of the ban. We have to tell them where not to smoke and we all have to get used to the idea now.
“The no-smoking ban has been enforced for a long time and Singaporeans, unlike Malaysians, are more disciplined.
“When throwing rubbish, they are willing to go and look for a rubbish bin even if it’s just a small scrap of paper. They don’t throw their rubbish around indiscriminately, like us Malaysians,” he quipped.
The smoking ban was announced by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian recently.
Upon the suspension of imposition of fines during the first six months of “educational enforcement”, he said the state government will work together with the Kuching City South Council (MBKS) and the Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) on programmes such as smoking therapy, educational awareness for schools and other anti-smoking campaigns.
The ban was implemented in Malaysia from Jan 1 this year and offenders can be fined up to RM10,000 or face a maximum two-year jail term.
Eateries that allow their customers to smoke in their premises can be fined a maximum of RM2,500.
