Govt Officials & Media Seen Smoking in Parliament Despite Health Ministry’s Order to Shut It Down

The recent smoking ban has created quite a commotion on social media as smokers and non-smokers were seen debating on the latest announcement by the Health Ministry.

Just last week (October 2018), Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye had announced that all open-air eateries will be gazetted as no-smoking zones starting 1 January 2019. That should give smokers ample time to cut the habit at restaurants and hawker stalls. 

To lead by example and to avoid causing inconvenience to non-smokers, the minister had also instructed the smoking room in Parliament to be shut down starting 15 October 2018, but that didn’t really work out as planned.

Reporters from Kwong Wah scouted around the smoking room and discovered that smokers consisting of government officials and media workers were still puffing away inside. Why didn’t they pay heed to the Health Ministry’s orders? 

Source: kwong wah

The picture above had garnered so much attention among netizens, with many pointing out that the politicians should lead by example and that the law should be strictly enforced on everyone and not just the rakyat.

“Don’t expect us (the rakyat) to follow this new ruling if government officials are still allowed to smoke in the room when it has been closed down,” a netizen said. 

“These politicians are supposed to uphold the law of the country and yet they are breaking it!” another Facebook user said.  

For your information, these are the no-smoking areas in Malaysia.

• Entertainment centres and cinemas (except for pubs, discos, nightclubs and casinos)
• Hospitals and clinics
• Lifts and public toilets
• Air-conditioned eateries
• Public transport, terminals and stops
• Airports
• Government premises
• All assembly areas in buildings
• Education institutions
• Childcare centres
• Shopping complexes
• Petrol stations
• Stadiums, sports centres, fitness centres
• Libraries
• Internet cafes
• Rest and relax (R&R) stops on highways
• National parks and public parks except for parking areas
• All walkways and covered bridges
• Open-air eateries

Do you think Malaysians would adhere to the latest no-smoking policy? Let us know what you think in the comments! 

Update: Eight people including an MP have been fined for smoking in Parliament, according to Malaysiakini.

Also read: Jamal Says Prison is One of Worst Places on Earth, Suggests They Should Allow Smoking