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MIRI, June 30: For the past six months up until June 30, the Miri Divisional Health Office (DHO) has conducted 308 operations under the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004, involving 192 routine operations and 116 integrated operations to curb incidents of smoking in restricted areas.
In a statement today, during that period, the DHO said a total of 6,845 premises throughout Miri Division were visited and a total of 617 offense notices were issued, with a total compound value of RM153,850.
Miri DHO found that food premises, shopping complexes and airports were the top three premises that involved smoking offenses in non-smoking areas.
The authority has also reminded that 23 places have been gazetted as non-smoking areas, such as eateries or air-conditioned shops, hospitals or clinics, public vehicles or public transport stops, airports, government premises, areas used for assembly activities inside a building, shopping complexes, gas stations and other places.
It called on the public, especially smokers, to be aware of and abide by the laws and regulations that have been set by the government, especially on the ban of smoking in non-smoking areas, particularly in food premises or air-conditioned shops, which aims to protect the public from the adverse effects of cigarette smoke.
Cooperation of the owners and staffs of food premises or air-conditioned shops is requested to ensure that the ban is observed by their customers, said the statement.
Support and cooperation of the public is crucial in ensuring compliance to non-smoking in non-smoking areas as per Regulation 11(1), Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004, to safeguard the health and well-being of the residents of Miri Division. — DayakDaily
