KUCHING (Bernama): The Sarawak state government is putting on hold the nationwide smoking ban at all eateries in the state pending a decision by the state Cabinet, says Sarawak Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Dim Kui Hian. He said although the state government was with the federal government on the anti-smoking law, it had its own local government ordinances on smoking. “I was given to understand that the Sarawak State Health Department (JKNS) under the Health Ministry is calling to discuss with the stakeholders especially the coffeeshops association on their recently gazetted Federal Anti Smoking Law and the implementation,” he said. Meanwhile, a Bernama check at several eateries, especially coffeeshops around Kuching, found that many customers were still smoking outside the premises. Last October, the Federal Government announced that smoking in all restaurants, coffeeshops and hawker centres – even open-air eateries – nationwide would be banned effective Jan 1.

Source: thestar January 01, 2019 08:15 UTC