KUALA LUMPUR — Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan will be fined for violating no-smoking regulations at an eatery, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad has confirmed.
In an X post today, Dzulkefly said that an officer from the Seremban Health Department will be meeting Mohamad to hand over a notice of his violation and issue a compound.
“To be honest, (Mohamad) himself asked the Health Ministry to issue a compound for his misdeed and he told me that he will pay the compound,” Dzulkefly added.
Two days ago, the health minister in another post said “no one is above the law”, and that the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024, which came into effect on Oct 1, would be enforced without double standards.
Dzulkefly said this in response to a post by an X user that tagged him and the Health Ministry with photos showing Mohamad smoking while sitting with several other individuals in the outdoor section of a restaurant.
Based on the Control of Tobacco Product (Amendment) Regulations 2018, anyone caught smoking in a no-smoking area can be fined up to RM10,000 and face up to two years in jail.
Non-smoking areas include eateries, entertainment centres except casinos, government premises, shopping complexes, public transport vehicles, and workplace buildings.
Business owners who fail to display a no-smoking sign may also be fined a maximum of RM3,000 or imprisoned for up to six months.
Meanwhile, Section 16 of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act states that anyone who smokes in an area declared as a non-smoking zone can be fined up to RM5,000. – December 18, 2024