



There was a lot a buzz surrounding the decision by Malaysian Ministry of Health (MOH) to ban smoking in public eateries which later then has been taken into effect starting 1st of January 2019. The support on the law was right in the middle as half of the population didn’t support the decision and the other half did (including me). But the government stood firm on their side and didn’t made a u-turn on the law. It was a sign of relieve for non-smokers and a day in hell for smokers. Under the law (Control of Tobacco Product (Amendment) Regulations 2017) prohibits smoking in 21 areas including hospitals, public toilets, lifts, government premises as well as air-conditioned shops and offices. Others include parks and government premises which didn't include public eateries (mamak restaurants, hawker stalls and etc) before. Those caught smoking at this mentioned areas can be fined RM10,000 or jailed for not more than two years.





Let’s go through the points made by non-supporters first, they demanded a smoking room for them to be made on this public eateries so that they can smoke freely. The idea was rejected by the MOH as it deceives the purpose of the law by having a smoking room on these premises/zones.Air travels if you think about it.





The next point was that the government should respect smokers free will to smoke freely which is agreeable until the point it doesn’t hurt others while doing so. It is a well-known fact that second hand smokers are more prone to lung cancers than smokers themselves. You (smokers) are ready to take on the effects/benefits of smoking but the ones around you are not. By mentioning free will the non-smokers also has free will in breathing in and out smoke free air.





Furthermore, looking at the perspectives of the operators, they were triggered and being spectacle on the damage it could do for their business. This was factually correct as there was a hit in business right after the law came into effect, but it soon recovered overtime. As the law went on for a month there were even business that stopped selling tobacco product at all and gained a big attraction from the people which contributed good money to their business.



