It says the proposal, in the absence of a comprehensive smoking ban, contradicts the national policy for tobacco control.
PETALING JAYA: The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) has criticised a proposal for the provision of designated smoking areas outside dining premises, especially for those located in tight spaces.
Fomca’s tobacco control coordinator Sha’ani Abdullah said the proposal for designated smoking areas, in the absence of a comprehensive smoking ban, contradicts the national policy for tobacco control.
He said if a smoking area was necessary, it should support the objective of denormalising smoking habits such as by offering smokers no comfort, including in the form of shelters and seating.
“Only red-marked boxes on the floor (should be provided),” Sha’ani said in a statement.
He added that children should not be exposed to these areas, to prevent them from picking up the smoking habit.
He also said smokers should wait at least 45 minutes after smoking before going indoors as cigarette smoke takes eight to 10 hours to dissipate from their lungs.
Last week, health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said his ministry would consider providing designated smoking areas outside dining premises, especially for those located in tight spaces.
He said it was difficult for these types of eateries to adhere to the current rule that people may only smoke three metres outside the premises.
He said countries such as Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong had permitted smoking areas.
“We will seriously consider establishing special areas for smokers in tight spaces like Jalan Alor in Bukit Bintang here. It’s not a backward or regressive step. It’s to ensure that they do not smoke or violate the three-metre ban that is being enforced,” Dzulkefly said.
In response, Sha’ani said the proposal for smoking areas should be understood in the context of each country.
“In Singapore, Serangoon Road has been declared smoke-free, and considering its vastness, smoking areas are provided by marking boxes on the floor for smokers,” he said.
These designated smoking areas were only provided as a transitional measure when smoking bans were introduced and were not a permanent feature, he added.
“The suggestion to allocate a smoking area at Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur, which is only about 200m-long, is unreasonable,” Sha’ani said.
“In Japan, given the challenging cold season, smoking areas are provided.”
Source: FMT
