Over 20 people issued compound notices for smoking in public areas in Sandakan

KOTA KINABALU: Twenty-four people were issued compound notices by health authorities for smoking in public areas, including at the hospital in Sabah’s Sandakan east coast district.

Sandakan health officer Dr Johari Awang Besar said the offenders were issued the notices during an exercise by the district health office on Friday (March 24).

He said the operation, aimed at enforcing the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004, was carried out in order to protect the public from the risks of secondhand tobacco smoke.

“Six compound notices were issued for smoking at no-smoking zones (in hospitals) under Rule 11(1) of the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004,” he said in a statement on Saturday (March 25).

He added that all areas in hospitals were strictly no-smoking zones under the regulations.

“Besides that, 14 compound notices were issued to individuals who smoked at eateries and four notices to outlet owners for failing to ensure no one smoked inside their premises,” Dr Johari said.

He said that the 24 notices amounted to a compound of RM6,000, adding the exercise was held at 56 premises in Bandar IJM, Bandar One Avenue, Bandar Midtown, Bandar Maju and the district hospital.

“The public is advised to observe and be updated of the law and rules fixed by the government particularly on smoking bans,” he added.