No fags in six S'kan public parks
Published on: Thursday, April 27, 2017
Sandakan: Six public parks here will become restricted smoking areas from June 1 this year. Malaysia has declared all public parks as restricted smoking areas since last February. District Health Officer Dr Johari Awang Besar said this is in accordance to the amended Control of Tobacco Product Regulations which gazetted public parks as restricted smoking areas.
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"This applies to all areas of the parks except for open parking spaces," he said. This is aligned to the other restricted areas namely bus stops, airconditioned areas and open stadiums, he said, adding that these three premises are totally restricted smoking areas, including cigars and other tobacco products, as well as electronic cigarettes. The restriction is done to protect non-smokers from the dangers of becoming second hand smokers, he said, adding that this is line with Article 8 of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention of Tobacco Control, which Malaysia had been a member of since 2005. In Sandakan these public parks are Memorial Park, Tun Abdul Razak Pavillion, Town Padang, Sandakan, Padang Bandaran Sandakan, Dataran MPS, Harbour View Garden, Sea View Garden and IJM Mile 6 Garden.
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The law will come into force on June 6, he said, adding that those found violating the law will be fined RM250. If they are found guilty in court they could be fined up to RM10,000 or jailed not more than two years, he said.
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Other smoke restricted areas include theatres, pubs, night clubs, casinos, hospitals, lifts, toilets, airconditioned and open restaurants, public transportation, inside buildings, airports, government buildings, assembly areas, learning institutions, kindergartens, school buses, banks, Telekom Malaysia, Tenaga Nasional and Pos Malaysia buildings, malls, fuel stations, sports complexes and other recreational gymnasiums and libraries. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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