Designated smoking zones: Government has to consider all parties, says Zuraida

KOTA BHARU (Jan 13): The government is “considering all parties” in its plans to set up designated smoking zones in public spaces, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said today.

According to a Bernama report, she said “if the move is not implemented, cigarette butts will be thrown away indiscriminately, causing other issues to arise".

Zuraida was commenting on a call by a grouping of more than 50 professional bodies and non-government organisations on her ministry to get rid of plans to set up special smoking areas in public spaces

The effort will be funded with RM1 million to 155 local authorities in the country.

“There is one sector that wants to take care of health and another sector that wants to smoke.

“We should empathise with smokers and provide them with the facilities – a place to smoke,” she added.