GEORGE TOWN: A total of 7,839 people have been fined for smoking and vaping at no-smoking areas in Penang, from January to September this year.
State Health director Datuk Dr Fazilah Shaikh Allaudin said 46.7% of the offenders were caught at eateries.
“The total amount of compounds issued under the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations came to about RM1.11mil,” she said in a dialogue session with stakeholders during the state- level Walkabout Programme of BeBAS (Clean, Smoke-Free) here yesterday.
Dr Fazilah said the Health Department had checked 7,447 premises this year to monitor compliance with smoking restrictions.
As for those who ignored the warning to put out their cigarettes, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni advised eatery owners or workers to report these recalcitrant customers to the ministry via WhatsApp at 010-860 8949 or the operations room at 03-8892 4552.
MD Yassin, the supervisor of a restaurant chain, then asked what protection his staff members, especially foreign workers, could get when stopping customers from smoking in the premises.
“We at the ministry are unable to provide protection.
“We strongly condemn any use of force and advise the public against resorting to violence,” Lukanisman said at the dialogue session attended by about 150 eatery operators and consumer group representatives.
He said the smoke-free regulation was not intended as a restriction but was to ensure the well-being of non-smokers.
On the programme, Lukanis-man said it is important for food and beverages premises to gain the “Bersih, Selamat dan Sihat” (Clean, Safe and Healthy, or BeSS) recognition.
“This recognition not only promotes the outlets, it will also increase the confidence of customers who are now particular about cleanliness and food safety,” he said.
He added that the BeSS recognition was given to eateries that complied with legal requirements under the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009.
The recognition is valid for three years and food outlets will be reviewed after it expires.
The BeBAS initiative in Penang is the 10th of a series since the programme was launched in February.
Of the 46 food outlets around the Medan Renong Food Complex and Lebuh Light were inspected, 34 received the BeSS certification.
