Don't dare to light it up in Singapore

PETALING JAYA: You don’t mess with a city like Singapore. It doesn’t bend the rules to accommodate anyone.

So, Malaysian athletes heading south for the 28th SEA Games in Singapore next month had better heed this warning: smoking is strictly prohibited at virtually all indoor places and areas where the public congregates.

Anyone caught flouting the rule will be fined a minimum of S$200 (RM539). If convicted, the amount could be as high as S$1,000 (RM2,697).

Malaysia will be sending a contingent comprising 653 athletes and 206 officials. They will all be placed in hotels scattered throughout the tiny island state.

In last year’s two multi-sports Games in Glasgow (Commonwealth ) and Incheon (Asiad), the Malaysian contingent were fined for smoking and causing damage to property.

It resulted in the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) being saddled with a bill of almost RM150,000.

The OCM, after deliberating on the matter, have told the sports associations to pay the fines.

In a move to make the athletes responsible for their own actions and instil greater discipline, the OCM are toying with the idea of making the individual athletes pay for their own indiscretions.

OCM secretary general Datuk Sieh Kok Chi felt that this could be the best way to try and curb the smoking habit among athletes.

“The fines imposed last year was high ... it is a cause for concern. We can’t just sweep this issue under the carpet. I see no reason why athletes should not be made to pay the fine if they flout the rules,” said Kok Chi.

Malaysian Sailing Association (MSA) general manager Afendy Abdullah agreed that any athlete or team official who breaks the rules is made to pay the fine.

“I agree with OCM ... why should the association pay for the athletes’ or officials’ wrongdoings?” said Afendy.

“The athletes and team officials sign a contract with the National Sports Council (NSC) when they represent the country and, in it, a non-smoking clause is included.

“Athletes competing in major tournaments also sign a pledge that they would not smoke ... so if they are caught smoking, they should be fined.”