GEORGE TOWN: Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) today criticised restaurant operators for disagreeing with the smoking ban at their premises as announced by the government recently.
Its president S.M. Mohamed Idris said people should go to restaurants to eat and not smoke as their bad habit could affect other people at the premises.
He said smoking at public areas also affects non-smokers including senior citizens, women and children who will became passive smokers.
“More than 80 per cent Malaysians are non-smokers and they are exposed to the cigarette smoke. They should be protected as this could lead to them suffering from cancer.
“There are rules that smokers must be 10 feet away from eatery outlets and it is the outlet owner’s responsibility to enforce this,” he said at a press conference here today.
According to Health Ministry’s report, most of the 4.7 smokers began the habit before 18 years old and there are over a million smokers aged below 10.
Mohamed Idris said that cigarette companies often offered retailers and coffee shop owners to sell certain brands through ‘Jual Lebih, Menang Lebih’ campaign.
“CAP would like to stress that all form of smoking and vaping should be prohibited at eatery outlets including its sale because it contains nicotine which is a Class C poison,” he said.
Previously, Healthy Ministry through its deputy minister Dr Lee Boon Chye issued a smoking ban at all restaurants and eatery outlets from Jan 1. However the announcement was objected by 30,000 food operators from Malaysia-Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors General Association (MSCSPGA), Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) and the Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association (Primas).
MSCPGA president Datuk Ho Su Mong said the government should stop smoking habits through other means and such ruling was not practical as 40 per cent of their customers were smokers.
Mohamed Idris, however, did not agree to the objection made.
“They forget that other ways to combat smoking habit is to ban smokers at eateries and the government is on the right track,” he said.