Malaysia: Health Ministry To Extend Smoke-free Zones To Other States

Source from:  BERNAMA (Malaysian National News Agency) (my)  11/23/2012

The  Health Ministry will extend the smoke-free zone to other states in the country in efforts to protect the public from second-hand smoke, especially in public areas.

Its deputy minister, Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shirlin said, the efforts will be carried out with help from the state government through applications made by the respective State Secretary.

"The ministry, with cooperation from the state government, have set up smoke-free zones and the Health Minister has gazetted six smoke-free zones in Penang, one in Johor and five in Melaka in 2011.

"Until now there are 12 smoke-free zones gazetted by the state government," she said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Noraini Ahmad (BN-Parit Sulong) at the Dewan Rakyat today regarding innovative measures by the ministry to increase awareness among teenagers on the dangers of cigarettes, as well as smoke-free zones according to the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004.

She said the ministry has gazetted 21 categories of public areas as smoke-free zones under the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004.

These include entertainment centres or theatres, hospital and clinic premises, lifts, public toilets, eateries or airconditioned restaurants, public transportation and buildings stated by the minister. Enditem