Yong
KOTA KINABALU: A majority of coffeeshop operators here support the smoking ban citing that most of their customers are non-smokers.
Sabah West Coast coffeeshop Association chairman, Yong Chee Yun, said, his members have also put up ‘No Smoking’ signages in their premises.
“So far, our members support the policy because a lot of our customers are non-smokers,” he said.
However, Yong said, several of his regular customers who used to smoke while enjoying a cup of coffee have not been seen since January 1.
“I believe their absence is only temporary,” Yong said.
He also noticed that customers are now going outside to smoke for the past two days, in line with the federal Health Ministry’s directive that states that smoking is only allowed three metres away from the dining area.
On another note, he disclosed that there had been an altercation among customers over the smoking ban at a coffeeshop in Inanam.
According to him, a customer had reprimanded another patron for smoking inside the premises, but the latter argued that the ban had yet to be imposed in Sabah.
Sabah West Coast Coffeeshop Association has about 400 members.
In Sandakan, as a reminder to his customers that they are expected to abide by the No Smoking rule, a restaurant owner here posted a photo of a customer smoking at the parking space in front of his restaurant on his Facebook page as a “joke”.
A photo showing a customer smoking at the parking space in front of Borhans Kebab was posted by the owner on his Facebook page as a joke and reminder to his regular customers.
Burhan Rustam, owner of Borhans Kebab in Sejati Walk, said although it was meant as a joke, he hoped that the locals, especially his regular customers, would understand that they are now not allowed to smoke at his restaurant, despite being a fully open space restaurant.
He said that although he is a smoker, he fully supports the smoking ban at restaurants as it is good for the public in general.
“I do not think that it is going to affect my business in any way because people come to my restaurant to eat kebabs, and not to smoke,” he said.
Burhan said he has put up no smoking signages at his premises and would not hesitate to speak to his customers if they do not obey the rule.
“While I support the new law, I also think that it would be a good idea if we have a designated section for smokers,” he said.
Another local restaurant owner, Fara Ramsah, said that she has already put up ‘no-smoking’ signages at her restaurant despite Sabah having not made it compulsory yet.
She said, she would be happy if Sabah also applied the same rule (as Peninsular Malaysia) as she has always wanted her restaurant, Warkop Warung Kopi in Bandar Prima to be a ‘family’ restaurant that is ‘kids friendly’.
She said, her restaurant is an open spaced restaurant, so she could not stop customers if they wanted to light a cigarette inside the premises. However, with the new law, she knows that customers would not smoke inside the restaurant anymore and it will be convenient for her and her staff.
“So far, we have not seen any customers who light a cigarette inside the premises. I hope this will continue,” she added.