Anti-smoking blitz rakes in RM18,750 in compounds
by Mary Francis, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 17, 2012, Tuesday
COMPOUNDED: Enforcement and Prosecution officers issuing notices to smokers at the premises of Miri Hospital.
MIRI: A total of 129 compounds amounting to RM18,750 were issued during the year-long antismoking campaign in 2011.
This was revealed by the Enforcement and Prosecution Unit of the Health Department here.
The notices were issued in 132 premises and locations in and around the city.
Senior assistant environmental health officer Simon Emang said out of the total, 116 were issued to public members puffing away in `No Smoking’ areas.
“Seventy-four were caught within the proximity of Miri Hospital and Polyclinic, 36 at Miri Airport and one at a government premises.
“Five of them were minors caught in the act and for possessing cigarettes, and 13 were traders for selling the cigarettes below the minimum prices and without the pictorial health warning,” Simon told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Under the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004, compound fees are RM250 each for adults and RM50 for minors.
Offenders have 30 days from the date of issuance of the notice to settle the compounds, failing which court action will be taken, and they are liable to pay a fine of RM1,000.
“This is our ongoing battle to curb smoking among the public and children in gazetted no-smoking zones,” Simon said, adding the campaign covered not only the urban but also rural areas as far as Bakong, Niah, Bakong, Lapok and Marudi.
Under the regulations, smoking is strictly prohibited in entertainment centres or theatres (except pubs, discotheques, night clubs or casinos), hospitals and clinics, air-conditioned eating outlets or shops, public transports, airports and government premises.
The prohibited places also include all educational or higher learning institutions, nurseries, shopping complexes, petrol kiosks, sports complexes, fitness centres or gymnasiums.
According to Simon, religious buildings such as churches, mosques, temples are also protected by the regulations, thus smoking is forbidden there.
The regulations ban the sale of tobacco products to adolescents below 18 years old, the sale of cigarette in opened packages and so forth.
Those flouting the regulations are liable to face a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or not more than two years’ imprisonment.
The authority seeks the strong support, cooperation and understanding of the public to help combat the menace, thus creating a healthy place to live in.
Smokers face high risk of developing lung cancer, heart complication and chronic lung diseases in the long run if they continue the unhealthy habit.
Research and studies found out that more than 4,000 chemicals are found in tobacco smoke — 2,000 are toxic, 63 carcinogenic while the rest are irritants.
