Datuk James Chan
KUCHING: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) is awaiting the Sarawak government’s decision on the smoking ban at eateries before taking the next course of action.
“The government will consider all views to make the right decision, not just from the point of law, but on ways of effective enforcement and creating awareness among the people,” its mayor Datuk James Chan said when contacted yesterday.
He said the Sarawak government was taking the no-smoking ban at eateries very seriously, and was currently engaging with all stakeholders.
“I understand the permanent secretary to the Ministry of Local Government did attend a dialogue session called by the Health Ministry, with all the stakeholders such as Kuching Coffee Shop and Restaurant Owners Association, who requested for a smoking zone or designated smoking areas in their premises for their customers,” he said.
He was commenting on the association’s request for a smoking zone to be set up when the smoking ban comes into effect in Sarawak.
Chan stressed that MBKS had always been against smoking in public eateries, taking the well-being of children and non-smokers into consideration.
“We have always discouraged smoking at eateries, including our own hawker centres, because of complaints from the non-smokers who have expressed their rights to experience a smoke-free environment,” he said.
He said smoking has been proven hazardous for one’s health, with secondhand smoke described as equally hazardous.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been advocating smoke-free public areas for several years now.
“I know that China is now vigorously implementing the smoking ban in most of its cities.
“Singapore is also tough on smoking. There are many countries and cities which have successfully implemented such a ban, and cities like Tokyo (Japan) provide specific smoking zones for smokers,” he added.