Thirteen defy smoking ban, caught lighting up at Tawau airport

KOTA KINABALU: Thirteen people, including foreign tourists, were issued summonses during a crackdown at Sabah’s east coast Tawau airport for contravening the smoking ban.

Enforcement personnel from the Tawau Health Department caught the offenders smoking outside the departure and arrival halls of the airport during a special three-hour operation late Wednesday (Feb 13).

Tawau Health Department officer Rahman Sempe said Thursday (Feb 14) that the airport complex has been gazetted as a no-smoking zone and it was an offence under the rules of the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004. 

He said they were each issued with RM250 compound notices for lighting up in a no-smoking area where signs have been clearly put up.

Rahman said they would have to pay the fine within the timeframe on the notices and if they failed, they could be charged in court.

The offenders must pay their summonses within the stipulated period at the Tawau Health Department office or any of the Health Department offices in the state.

Rahman hoped that smokers observe the signboards, and would not be stubborn and ignore it.