No room for smoking

In three months’ time, smokers will not be able to light up when dining al fresco at restaurants Malaysia-wide, according to a story at The Coverage quoting other media outlets.
The Health Ministry has reportedly said that all open-air restaurants will be gazetted as non-smoking areas from December.
The Health Ministry has reportedly said that all open-air restaurants will be gazetted as non-smoking areas from December.
“This gazettement is Malaysia’s commitment as a member state to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and adheres to the guidelines under Article 8 of the World Health Organization,” the deputy health minister Dr. Lee Boon Chye was quoted as saying.
“It is also one of the ministry’s initiatives to protect the public from the dangers of cigarette smoke.”
Those found to have broken the law on smoking could be fined RM10,000 or sent to jail for up to two years.
Lee was reported to have proposed also closing the parliament’s smoking-room next month in a bid to turn the entire law-making house into a smoke-free zone.
He said there were currently 23 areas designated smoke-free under the Control of Tobacco Product (Amendment) Regulations 2017.These included entertainment centers, theaters, elevators, public toilets, air-conditioned eateries, public vehicles, airports, government premises and any area used for assembly.