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KEDAH - Malaysia will enforce a smoking ban on restaurants, coffee shops and hawker stalls nationwide from Jan 1, Sin Chew Daily cited Deputy Health Minister Lee Boon Chye as saying on Thursday (Oct 11). The ban will cover all air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned restaurants, coffee shops, open-air hawker centres and street stalls. Dr Lee announced the mandatory ban while chairing a health forum at the Asian Institute of Medical, Science and Technology in Kedah. Those caught smoking at prohibited areas will be fined RM10,000 (S$3,300) and eateries found not enforcing the ban will be fined RM2,500. The Star newspaper reported in September that the health ministry was pushing to gazette all open-air restaurants as no-smoking areas, according to Dr Lee. The gazettement was not only to encourage smokers to kick the habit, but also to protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke due to tobacco products. "No doubt smokers will say they have the right to smoke, but non-smokers also have the right to have smoke-free areas," Dr Lee had said. The Gopeng MP is also seeking his fellow MPs' support to shut down the smoking room in Parliament by October. He hopes the MPs who smoke will take the opportunity to quit smoking. "This gazettement is Malaysia's commitment as a member state to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and adheres to the guidelines under Article 8 of the World Health Organisation," he added. The current Control of Tobacco Product (Amendment) Regulations 2017 prohibits smoking in 21 areas including hospitals, public toilets, lifts, government premises as well as air-conditioned shops and offices.

just recieved letter via registered mail asking me to confirm driver for the stated offence. any bro tio before? called them they said captured by nea officers ..sia suay me. i cant even remember . offence back dated 3 weeks ago..