NGO: Smoking ban policy receives strong public support, but enforcement still low

Malaysia’s nationwide indoor smoking ban policy has been implemented since January 2019.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, July 17: An online survey by Society for Cancer Advocacy and Awareness Kuching (SCAN) reveals that the enforcement of Malaysia’s nationwide indoor smoking ban policy implemented since January 2019, remains a challenge despite enjoying strong public support.

According to a recent press statement, while an overwhelming 97.5 per cent of respondents are aware of the smoking ban in public places including eateries, many still report frequent violations.

Despite the high level of awareness, 48.1 per cent of respondents frequently observed violations of the ban, indicating persistent compliance issues.

“The respondents selected inadequate enforcement (32.9 per cent of selections) and habitual smoking (36.9 per cent of selections) emerged as the primary reasons for non-compliance.

“Most respondents rated the smoking ban enforcement as poor (55.6 per cent respondents) with a further 24.7 per cent rating it as fair. This highlights a need for more robust enforcement mechanisms,” it said.

Nevertheless, the smoking ban enjoys robust public backing, with 88.9 per cent of respondents strongly supporting it.

Additionally, a significant majority of respondents (64.2 per cent) strongly agree that the smoking ban has contributed to a healthier environment in public places.

The Malaysian government introduced the indoor smoking ban in 2019 to combat the adverse health effects of secondhand smoke and to protect non-smokers.

The policy aimed to create smoke-free environments in enclosed public spaces, such as restaurants and cafes.

In the same statement, SCAN president Chris Cheng reportedly said these survey results are encouraging as they demonstrate strong public support for the smoking ban.

“However, the findings also highlight the need for more effective enforcement to ensure the policy achieves its full potential in protecting public health,” he stated. — DayakDaily