TAWAU: Circulars regarding ‘No Smoking’ sticker were distributed to all public transport companies, including taxis, bus and school bus companies in 2009.
A spokesman for the Health Department here said the circulars were sent to the public transport association chairmen and offices and were broadcasted over the local radio.
There was no truth that the department had not informed all public transport companies, he said when commenting on the taxi drivers’ claims that they were not informed prior to action taken against some of them recently.
He said according to the Road Transport Department regulations, public transport vehicles must have the sticker displayed.
On claims that the compound imposed was unfair, he said the actual compound for the offence was RM500 and the department was considerate in imposing a RM250 compound on 15n individuals, including taxi drivers, for not having the sticker and a bus passenger who was found smoking during a recent roadblock.
He said the operation was a directive from Putrajaya and was conducted simultaneously all over the country.
He said the department conducts such operation every month and enforcement officers are only doing their duty to enforce the regulation accordingly.