KUCHING: It would be good if designated zones for smoking are provided at restaurants and eateries, said Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said that in this way, the rights of smokers and non-smokers are protected.
"Furthermore, smokers could be trained to keep the environment clean and not to litter place with their cigarette butts," he pointed out, when asked to comment on a report that the Ministry of Health is planning to b an smoking at all eateries nationwide, including at 'Mamak' stalls, 'kopitiam' and food courts.
According to Karim, a good country to emulate is Japan where special zones are set up outside restaurants, hotels, parks and museums for smokers.
On the fines of between RM250 and RM500 for offenders who are caught smoking at non-smoking zone, he felt the fines were too hefty.
First offender could be fines just rm50 and for subsequent offences, the fines be increased," he said.
According to the Health Ministry's website, all public and national parks, including theme parks, will also be gazetted as non-smoking zones.
Currently, smoking is not allowed in air-conditioned restaurants, shopping centres, and sheltered walkways, as we as in and around rest-stops along the highway.
The Health Ministry said on its website that the ban would be in line with provisions set under the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention for Tobacco Control, to which Malaysia is a signatory.
According to Health Ministry's statistics released earlier, an estimated 100,000 Malaysians died every year from smoking-related illness.
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