SHAH ALAM, Dec 23 — The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) has urged for local authorities (PBTs) to provide suitable smoking zones, following the enforcement on the smoking ban at eateries beginning January 1.
Its minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the ministry would request for PBTs across the country to identify suitable locations to set up the smoking zones.
“This planning will be implemented in stages beginning of next year under several selected PBTs,” she said in a statement yesterday.
On Friday, the Health Ministry announced that smoking and vaping would be strictly prohibited in all eateries nationwide from 2020 onwards.
Its deputy minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said that offenders would face a fine of RM250, but would be reduced to RM150 if the fine was settled in less than a month.
Meanwhile, Zuraida had on Friday visited the smoking zone provided by the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ), which is placed three-metres away from eateries as directed by the Health Ministry.
She urged smokers to only smoke at designated areas and to not litter their cigarette butts as well as to practice proper disposal of trash.
“We urge the local authorities to enforce the Waste Disposal By-law on smokers who litter their cigarette butts.
“We hope that smokers would cooperate with us in keeping our environment clean,” she said.
