Grace period for smokers ends June 30

With the grace period on educating smokers not to smoke at eateries ending on June 30, Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye urged smokers to control their habit or kick it altogether.

“If they want to stop smoking, services are available at the ministry's 731 clinics and 46 hospitals for free,” he told reporters after witnessing the signing of an MOU on the Healthy Communities are Nation Builders Plus Programme between the Health Ministry and Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd in Putrajaya today.

He said that from July, action would be taken against those caught smoking at eateries.

The prohibition on smoking at eateries came into force on Jan 1. Smokers must be at least 3m away (from eateries) before they can light up.

The Health Ministry had given a grace period of six months to counsel offenders. However, from July, offenders can be fined not exceeding RM10,000 or jailed not more than two years.

On regulations governing electronic cigarettes and vaping, Lee said if nicotine was involved, the Poisons Act 1952 and Sale of Drugs Act 1952 comes into play.

If there is no nicotine, sellers can continue to sell their products, even though the ministry discouraged this.

- Bernama