Abang Abdul Wahap (right) joins Wee in a photo-call after the meeting.

KUCHING: The Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) will implement its smoke-free zones (SFZs) – with or without Sarawak’s adoption of the federal government’s smoking ban at all eateries effective Jan 1 next year.

Kuching North Datuk Bandar Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai said the majority of the operators of food premises in areas under DBKU’s jurisdiction had volunteered for the SFZ campaign.

“DBKU’s approach is to get the operators themselves declare areas in their outlets as SFZs. They will also dictate (their own) dedicated smoking areas (DSAs).

“The majority of over 360 operators licensed under us have expressed their ‘likes’ – with their support, we have created numerous SFZs at food outlets within DBKU areas,” he told The Borneo Post after a meeting with DBKU commission member Dato Wee Hong Seng at a hotel here yesterday.

According to Abang Abdul Wahap, several dialogues had been held to explain the dangers of smoking – particularly second-hand smoke on pregnant mothers, ageing individuals, and those with asthmatic problems – as well as other related problems like the indiscriminate littering of cigarette butts.

Nonetheless, he said there were several operators who were against the SFZ campaign, adding that the Sarawak Coffeeshops Association had even invited their leader from Kuala Lumpur to come down and negotiate with the DBKU.

“The association even called down their president from Kuala Lumpur to see me, to try and persuade us to stop the campaign.

“I told them I was being democratic. I’m not against smokers per se, and the operators do have an option either to be with me or not,” he added.

The voluntary creation of SFZs was regarded as a new idea – one that was well-received during the first ‘Asia Pacific Cities Alliance on Tabacoo Control Congress’ held in Singapore in 2016, Abang Abdul Wahap pointed out.

He recalled that DBKU was the lone representative from Malaysia and at the congress, it was he who proposed SFZs at all eateries.

“So with the law or without it (being) enforced in Sarawak, DBKU would use its persuasive effort to enforce the SFZs, effective this Jan 1.

“We will not immediately (impose) summons (to the) offenders, but let it be known that the people should be more responsible as citizens,” said the Datuk Bandar.

For Wee, there was not much issue regarding the smoking ban – except the procedures involved in implementing it.

He said the DBKU had kicked off the campaign two years ago on the zoning system, and had even arranged a meeting with the stakeholders and the committee of Sarawak Coffeeshops Association to see how best the commission could implement and achieve in the exercise, which would respect both smokers and non-smokers.

“We are also in the midst of putting up smoking zones and also creating smoking rooms at public areas.

“If I’m not mistaken, DBKU is the first in Sarawak – if not Malaysia – to have kickstarted this (SFZ) campaign,” added Wee.

In October this year, Deputy Minister of Health Dr Lee Boon Chye announced the smoking ban at all eateries, air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned, including restaurants, coffee shops, open-air hawker’s centres and street stalls, effective Jan 1 next year.

Under this policy, anyone caught smoking at the prohibited areas would face a fine of RM10,000, while any eatery that does not comply with this regulation, would be fined RM2,500.

On Sunday, Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian declared that the smoking ban would not apply to Sarawak – unless the Sarawak government adopted the new policy.