67 issued summonses for puffing in non-smoking areas

Star: SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Health Depart­ment issued 67 summonses to smokers, including four women and eight foreigners, for lighting up in non-smoking areas yesterday.
All the offenders were caught smoking in public areas such as restaurants and shops in the PKNS shopping centre, Plaza Alam Sentral and SACC Mall during eight hours of enforcement from 10am.
Department director Dr Rosnah Hadis said the operation was the first after the Health Ministry widened the ban on smoking to more areas last month.
“Many still smoke at non-smoking areas despite various awareness campaigns and repeated warnings by the Health Ministry,” she told a press conference.
Dr Rosnah said those who received the summons were aged between 20 and 60.
They were required to settle their compounds within two weeks at any Health department office, she said.
A compound fine of up to RM5,000 or a maximum fine of RM10,000 or two years jail or both if the case goes to court awaits those who flout the law.
Dr Rosnah said the department carried out 123 operations in the state and issued 115 compounds to smokers from January to September this year.
She said 440 cases were brought to court with fines totalling RM29,804.
During the period, 26 teenagers aged 18 and below were compounded for smoking and having cigarettes.
Dr Rosnah urged business owners to display no-smoking signs at their premises or action could be taken against them for failing to do so.