Sabah to decide on smoking ban tomorrow, says state minister

By Olivia Miwil - January 8, 2019 @ 9:24pm

Sabah state Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Stephen Wong. - NSTP FILE PIC

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will decide tomorrow whether to implement smoking ban at eateries, says state Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Stephen Wong.

His comment follows a Jan 7 circular issued by Sabah Health Department on the immediate postponement to declare eateries as smoke-free zones throughout the state until further notice.

“The ministry had a meeting with the department on smoking ban yesterday.

“The notice was issued to clarify the deferment on the ban pending cabinet decision tomorrow,” he said when contacted by NSTP.

On Jan 1, Sabah has put on hold the nationwide smoking ban at all eateries pending a decision by the state Cabinet.

Wong also clarified that the circular, although only issued yesterday, did not mean that the state refused to adhere to the Health Ministry's order on smoking ban.

Both Sabah and Sarawak have put on hold the smoking ban order to look into the respective states' own local government ordinances on the matter.

Under the ban, those caught smoking in prohibited areas will be fined up to RM10,000 or face two years’ jail while eateries found to have allowed customers to light up will be slapped with a maximum fine of RM2,500.

Smokers, however, could light up three metres away from those premises.

However, offenders will only be fined after six months of grace-period which the Health Ministry is aiming to educate the public on the ban.

When asked on possible decision on tomorrow’s meeting, Wong said: “I think the state government will likely implement it... we will see.”

Last October, the federal government announced that smoking at all restaurants, coffee shops and hawker centres – including open-air eateries - nationwide will be banned effective Jan 1.