Smokers, take note! If you happen to be in a public park in Selangor, then you better check before you light up, because starting from June 1, it will be illegal to smoke in some of these areas. E-cigarettes included!
Actually, these regulations have already been in place since February 1 but the enforcement will only be implemented from 1st June as the authorities were carrying out educational and awareness activities since February 15.
If caught, under the Control of Tobacco Product (Amendment) Regulations 2017, offenders will face a maximum fine of RM10,000 or up to two years’ imprisonment. The authorities have taken up the effort to educate the public by putting up no-smoking signs, buntings and banners while 39,819 pamphlets were distributed to inform people about the no-smoking zones.
According to The Star, Selangor Health director Datuk Dr Zailan Adnan said, “To gazette a park as a non-smoking area is a separate process, we need to know how big the park is and where the boundaries are. We also need to start soft enforcement, to educate and inform the public. If we just gazette a park without having the suitable means to enforce the regulation, we will be mocking the process.”
Malaysia also aims to be a smoke-free nation by 2045, so this is one of the steps that they will be taking to ensure that we are moving in the right direction. Currently, there are 24 no-smoking zones in Selangor, which includes government premises, hospitals, shopping complexes, petrol stations and air-conditioned places.
Here’s the list of the 13 parks in Petaling Jaya that have banned smoking in their premises: Taman Jaya, Taman Bandaran Kelana Jaya, Taman Aman, Taman PJS 10, Taman Rimba Riang, Taman Tasik Komuniti Kelana Jaya, Urban Park 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Damansara Damai, Centre Spine in Bandar Sri Damansara, Taman Tasik Ara Damansara and Bukit Gasing.
The ban on smoking in public parks have been in place since January for Kuala Lumpur, so remember to take a look around before you light up otherwise you may just land yourself in some hot soup!
Also read: Malaysian Government Wants to Increase Cigarette Prices and Age Limit for Tobacco Sales