Emulate Japan in handling smokers

May 11, 2015

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.

Study needed before prohibiting roof gutters — Abdul Karim

January 8, 2014 

KUCHING: An in-depth study and referral involving those in the construction industry should be conducted before coming up with measures to prohibit new housing projects from installing rainwater gutters on the roof.

Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he personally did not see the rationale of the proposal to prohibit the installation of rainwater gutters on the roof for newly constructed houses.

“I believe the requirement for gutters comes within building by-laws. I am puzzled how the Ministry of Health suddenly came up with this idea of doing away with gutters in new building laws merely because he (deputy minister) thought that it

could retain water and thus a breeding ground for aedes mosquitoes,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Youth Development, was commenting on the Health Ministry’s proposal that new housing projects be prohibited from installing rainwater gutters on the roof to curb the rising number of dengue cases.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahya said the move was necessary as Malaysians were still unaware that gutters that were not properly maintained could become breeding grounds of aedes mosquitoes.

The Health Ministry also proposed that the Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government amend its existing regulations so that all rainwater gutters in existing houses would be removed for effective eradication of aedes mosquitoes.

   

Larangan pasang saluran air hujan tidak rasional

January 8, 2014

Cadangan ia dijadikan peraturan baharu diutarakan dalam usaha membanteras pembiakan aedes

KUCHING: Cadangan supaya satu peraturan baharu digubal bagi melarang saluran air hujan dipasang pada bumbung rumah dalam usaha membanteras pembiakan aedes, disifatkan tidak rasional.

Menteri Muda Perumahan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, malahan setiap rumah yang dibina sememangnya dilengkapi dengan saluran air hujan pada bumbung bagi membolehkan pengaliran air dengan betul ke longkang.

“Aedes tidak mungkin membiak dalam saluran air hujan berkenaan, melainkan jika ia rosak dan setakat ini ia tidak menjadi isu dalam industri perumahan Sarawak.

“Saya merasakan tidak ada keperluan untuk peraturan baharu bagi perkara berkenaan,” katanya melalui sistem pesanan ringkas kepada Utusan Borneo di sini, semalam.

Abdul Karim berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai laporan akhbar nasional pada 6 Januari lepas, yang menyatakan bahawa Kementerian Kesihatan akan mengemukakan cadangan supaya satu peraturan baharu digubal bagi melarang saluran air hujan dipasang pada bumbung rumah dalam usaha membanteras pembiakan aedes.

Tambah Abdul Karim lagi, malah Malaysia terletak berhampiran Khatulistiwa dan mengalami taburan hujan agak lebat sepanjang tahun.

Support and much praise for ban on ‘smoke’ candies

June 8, 2013

SIBU: The government must stop the sale of food products that could influence consumers to develop an unhealthy lifestyle.

Assistant Youth Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who said this yesterday, added: “Any product that promotes an unhealthy lifestyle should be checked”.

He was asked to comment on the sale of ‘smoke’ candies which look like cigarettes front-paged by The Borneo Post yesterday.

The Food Safety and Quality Unit of Health Ministry had raised the alarm over these candies which are made in China and had issued a stern warning to traders to remove them from the shelves.

Felician Teo, a councillor from Maradong, lauded the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) swift move to clamp down on the sale of these ‘smoke’ candies.

Teo, in supporting the stringent measure, said yesterday nipping the threat posed by the candies in the bud was the right move as kids buying these cadies could be influenced to take up smoking when they grew up.

“MOH is right to act swiftly to ban the so called smoke candies from hitting the streets. Such pre-emptive actions must be lauded as these so called candies can cause young kids to pick up smoking habit later in life.