Smokers could face two years in jail

Two hundred and thirty-nine people were fined for smoking at bus stops in a recent crackdown conducted by the Malaysia’s health ministry, according to a story in The Star.

Another 17 were said to have been caught smoking inside buses and, though the story didn’t mention it, presumably fined.

“The operation was conducted in 2,317 public vehicles and 251 public transportation terminals,” said health ministry Director-general Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Smokers were caught also at taxi stands, train stations and ferry terminals, and on jetties and ferries.

One hundred and ninety-nine fines were issued to the owners of public vehicles for failing to display “no smoking” signs in their vehicles or failing to display the correct signs.

And eight people were fined for possessing illicit cigarettes.

Those who fail to pay their fines in the stipulated time are liable to be taken to court where they could risk maximum fines of MYR10,000 or even two years in prison.