Smoking ban useless if not enforced, says Penguang

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A banner near SMC’s multi-storey car park at Wong Nai Siong Road informs the public of the smoking ban in public parks.

SIBU: Imposing a ban on smoking in public parks requires strict enforcement otherwise the ruling would only make a mockery of the law.

Assistant Minister for Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil said this when commenting on a recent report that all public parks in the country had been gazetted as no-smoking zones.

“If you designate this area as non-smoking, yet you can’t enforce the rule – there is not much point,” Penguang told The Borneo Post yesterday.

On the suggestion to designate areas in the parks for smokers, the assistant minister said it would defeat the purpose of the ruling.

“The question we need to ask ourselves is what do we actually want? Do we want people to stop smoking in public parks, or do we want them not to simply throw cigarette butts?”

The Marudi assemblyman said he had learned from a reliable legal source that the Tobacco Act had not been adopted by the state government.

“Furthermore, public parks in the state are not included in areas gazetted as non-smoking areas under the Tobacco Act.

“Recreational parks and open spaces are gazetted under the State’s Parks and Green Ordinance.”

Meanwhile, a source from Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) revealed yesterday that no-smoking signages would be placed in public parks here soon.

“We will identify the areas, put up notice boards at public parks like Sibu Rajang Esplanade, Lake Garden and a park in Sibu Town Square Phase 2,” the source stated.

It said the Health Department had placed a banner near SMC’s multi-storey car park along Wong Nai Siong Road here to inform the public of the ruling.

It was earlier reported that 4,504 health enforcement officers were involved nationwide in the anti-smoking measure.

Effective June 1, 2017, any person found smoking in public parks can face a fine of RM10,000 or imprisonment not exceeding two years.