Penang, Malaysia - specific areas for smoking.

Penang - Coat-of-Arms..

September 30, 2010 - GEORGE TOWN (the capital of Penang state) - smoking will only be allowed in gazetted areas (a restricted area) under a proposal by the state government to make Penang 'smoke free'. If such a proposal gets the nod from the Health Ministry, it will certainly give smokers in the state a 'harder' time. State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said it had handed the proposal to the Health Ministry.

'Instead of gazetting non-smoking areas, we have proposed to the ministry for the situation to be reversed. We will gazette the areas where people can smoke. 'We want to encourage the people to discipline themselves, rather than using laws alone to solve the problem,' he said, adding that the proposal was aimed at creating a healthier state. 'This step does not discriminate against the smokers' right. However, we are concerned about them and their family's health,' he said after flagging off a walkathon organised by the Penang Adventist Hospital.

Consumer groups welcomed the proposal, describing it as the right move towards a healthier society. Fomca secretary-general Muhd Sha'ani Abdullah said Penang could implement the smoke-free rule in municipal areas under the Local Government Act. 'They can declare smoke-free areas in all business premises and hotel rooms using the council's licensing powers,' he said.

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Consumers Association of Penang president S.M. Mohd Idris urged the state government to put up banners about the pictorial warning on cigarette packs within school compound and outside places of worship. 'The banners should be put up in primary schools to warn pupils about the dangers of smoking so that they don't pick up the habit,' he said. Mr Idris said although the Botanical Gardens here was a no-smoking zone, many people, especially tourists, were seen puffing away. -- THE STAR/ANN

Reference: SE ASIA - Penang to be 'smoke-free', THE STAR/ANN, Straits Times, 9/27/2010.

Malaysia - some related news briefs:
Malaysia - BAT wants gradual, moderate increases in the cigarette tax..:
Malaysia - horrific graphic warnings on cigarette packs, cartons..;
Malaysia - one out of three packets of cigarettes was smuggled;
Malaysia - doing a better job of seizing smuggled cigarettes..;
Malaysia - best way to get teenage girls to stop smoking is through education..;
Malaysia - ban on 14-stick cigarette packs delayed worry about increase in illicit cigarettes..;
Malaysia - slight decrease in illicit cigarettes; JTI Malaysia q1 2010 market share increases..;
Malaysia - Health Ministry's proposal to ban the sale of 14-stick cigarette packs beginning June 1, 2010..;
Malaysia - increase in number of women smoking..;
Malaysia - new strategy to penalize retailers who sell contraband cigarettes..;
Malaysia - youth and student smokers may not receive aid from government..;
Malaysia - two tobacco control regulations starting January 1, 2010..

Malaysia - about 368,000 teenager smokers in the country, 50-60 added per day..;
Malaysia - sale of cigarettes in packets of less than 20 prohibited as of June 1, 2010..;
Malaysia - stepping up efforts to curb the trade in illicit cigarettes..;
Malaysia - BAT plans to dispose of a parcel of industrial land..;
Malaysia - ban on cigarette sponsorship for sports will not be withdrawn..;
Malaysia - cigarette-shaped sweets packaged like cigarettes;
Malaysia - Penang consumer group ban cheap cigarettes and increase price on premium..;
Malaysia - Kelantin State Government may not promote staff who smoke..;
Malaysia - excise duty increased on tobacco - another increase could be coming this month..;
Malaysia - smoking limits your quality of life..;
Malaysia - smoking civil servants in Penang to receive free nicotine treatment..;
Malaysia - illicit cigarettes, BAT wants government to slow excise duty increases..;
Peninsular Malaysia - one of three cigarette packs is either contraband or fake..;
Komtar, Penang, Malaysia smoking ban strictly enforced..;
Malaysia student forced to smoke 40 cigarettes in two hours..
Malaysia - PSD and Cuepacs are at odds over the no-smoking rule at government de­­partments and agencies..;
Malaysia: Are tobacco control measures working? - WHO thinks so...;
Malaysia - slowdown in cigarette consumption..;
Malaysia - January 1, 2009 pictorial cigarette warnings..;
Malaysia to hike cigarette prices..;
Malaysia - 25% of all cigarettes sales are illegal...Peninsular Malaysia - one of three cigarette packs is either contraband or fake..;
Komtar, Penang, Malaysia smoking ban strictly enforced..;
Malaysia student forced to smoke 40 cigarettes in two hours..
Malaysia - PSD and Cuepacs are at odds over the no-smoking rule at government de­­partments and agencies..;
Malaysia: Are tobacco control measures working? - WHO thinks so...;
Malaysia - slowdown in cigarette consumption..;
Malaysia - January 1, 2009 pictorial cigarette warnings..;
Malaysia to hike cigarette prices..;
Malaysia - 25% of all cigarettes sales are illegal...

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