Deputy Health Minister welcomes Sarawak’s smoking ban decision

No Smoking sign.

KUCHING, Jan 25: Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye is delighted that Sarawak will be implementing the smoking ban at all eateries in the state starting this March 1.

In a statement today, he said his ministry, through the state Health Department, would immediately start awareness and educational campaign on the smoking ban and would start enforcement on March 1.

“The ministry welcomes the state government’s announcement on Jan 24, 2019, to start enforcing the smoking ban at all eateries in the state beginning March 1, 2019,” he said.

The federal government started the smoking ban enforcement at all eateries in the peninsula on Jan 1, 2019, under the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations (Amended) 2018 under the Food Act 1983.

The ban aims to protect the public, especially non-smokers, from being exposed to cigarette smoke, in line with the federal government’s commitment to Article 8 of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). — DayakDaily