Sibu Municipal Council wants ‘no smoking’ signs displayed in hotel toilets, restaurants

File photo for illustration purposes only. Photo credit: Ralf Kunze/Pixabay

By William Isau

SIBU, July 15: The habit of smoking in toilets of hotels and restaurants is prevalent, prompting the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) to make it compulsory for non-smoking signs to be displayed.

The council’s Public Health, Environment and Municipal Services staff inspected all hotels and restaurants in the city on the matter today to ensure that each premises in question displays a ‘no smoking’ sign in their toilets.

Deputy chairman of the standing committee on Public Health, Environment, and Municipal Services, Councilor Yiing Sy Huat, said that his party had received complaints from the public regarding the habit of smoking in the toilet.

“We always receive complaints where there are still many people smoking in hotel toilets and restaurants.

“Our inspection is to ensure that the premises in question display or affix smoking ban signs in the toilets and also ensure that the ventilation ducts are working properly,” he told the media.

Yiing urged that all premises concerned cooperate with MPS to deal with the problem.

“This time, we only gave verbal advice to instruct them to display the sign. If there is still no action, we may issue a compound notice.

“This sign is not only to be placed in the premises but in the toilets as well, including coffee shops,” he said.

Apart from ensuring the prohibition sign, he said, the operation also included checking the kitchens of hotels and restaurants to ensure cleanliness in the kitchen is also guaranteed.

“This operation is to check all kitchen utensils, such as plates and bowls, are according to the standards that have been set. We also check their waste disposal drainage system,” he said.

He added that the operation will be carried out every month in all hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops.

Also participating in the operation were two MPS Public Health, Environment, and Municipal Services standing committee members Counselor Yii Suok Ming and Counselor Dr Johnny Kieh Dullah, as well as six MPS staff. — DayakDaily