[VIDEO] 50 officers for 15 smokers: MoH, DBKL issue RM3,750 in compounds

KUALA LUMPUR – As our health sector is pushed to its limit by the Covid-19 pandemic that rages on, the Health Ministry and Kuala Lumpur City Hall deployed 50 officers to compound 15 smokers in a joint operation in several areas here today.

With the compounds totalling RM3,750, authorities and activists are apparently taking their chances with the Omicron variant to come down on smokers who, whether knowingly or otherwise, flout the law.

Accompanied by 10 volunteers from various organisations under the Kuala Lumpur Bebas Asap Rokok programme, the operation saw the patrolling of 156 covered walkways around the city as personnel replaced lit cigarettes with pamphlets on the dangers of smoking.

According to Regulation 22 of the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations 2004, a health minister has the authority to gazette certain areas as no-smoking zones.

Consequently, all covered walkways here have been gazetted as non-smoking areas since 2017, a fact which is perhaps not known by many, as pointed out by Malaysian Environmental Health Association deputy president Chandrakant Patel.

Speaking to media at Sunway Putra Mall, one of the locations targeted by the operation, Chandrakant said the operation was conducted to raise awareness on the regulation and the downsides of tobacco consumption.

“Since people did not go out much and were staying at home when Covid-19 initially hit the country, many smokers claim that they do not know about the law.

“However, with our operation today, more smokers will be aware of the restriction on smoking at covered walkways and will also be educated on how they can get help to quit smoking,” he said, adding that today’s operation is an “integrated effort” to enhance community engagement.

His views are supported by city council public health deputy senior officer Dr Nor Halizam Ismail who reported that among those compounded, many were confused as to why they were issued summonses.

“Some people were compounded today because they were vaping. They thought that the smoking ban only applies to cigarettes.

“However, we (city council) have already mentioned that it applies to any tobacco products including vapes,” she said, adding that some smokers had claimed ignorance since covered walkways were only gazetted here.

Similarly, Federation of Malaysian Consumers tobacco control coordinator Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah told media that one of the compounded smokers was upset by the action taken against him as there were no signs nearby prohibiting smoking.

Admitting that the signs currently displayed might be unclear as they do not specify that smokers can only smoke 3m away from any covered walkway, the activist added his observation that the public are not responding well to established health policies.

“Smokers should understand that we are not trying to completely ban them from smoking, but in the interest of public health, we are only restricting the areas in which they can smoke freely,” he said, calling on smokers to be responsible and adhere to the law.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Women’s Action for Tobacco Control and Health (MyWatch) president Roslizawati Md Ali said she believes efforts to curb public smoking should be encouraged, for the sake of smokers and those around them.

She said while smokers who continued to smoke at home when they were unable to leave their residences during the early days of the pandemic might be doing so in their private spaces, they were also subjecting others to second-hand dangers.

“The MyHouse programme under MyWatch aims to eradicate such harms by promoting a safe home environment free from cigarette smoke.

“It is your right to smoke, but at the same time, the practising of your right should not impact other people’s quality of life by causing them possible injury and suffering.”

Besides the gazettement of covered walkways as smoke-free zones, the smoking ban at eateries had been introduced by former health minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad during Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) time in federal power.

Under Dzulkefly’s watch, the PH administration then had gazetted all eateries, including open-air establishments, as smoke-free zones from January 2019 under Regulation 11(1)(d) of PPKHT 2004.

Members of the public who wish to lodge a complaint on individuals smoking in no-smoking areas can do so by sending a WhatsApp message to the Health Ministry’s hotline at 010-860-8949.

While urging smokers to abide by regulations, she added that smokers looking to kick the habit can also take the first step by joining the Jom Quit programme endorsed by the ministry.

Previously, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had said he intends to table a new Tobacco and Smoking Control Act in Parliament to regulate electronic cigarettes and vape products alongside a “generation end-game” target against smoking in the long run.

If the law is passed, those born after 2005 will not be allowed to purchase cigarettes in the country. – The Vibes, February 24, 2022

Additional reporting by Diana Rizal