An MP Was Fined For Smoking In Parliament On The Same Day It Was Declared Smoke-Free
The Health Ministry has declined to reveal the name of the MP who was fined.
By Jia Vern Tham — 16 Oct 2018, 03:34 PM
Yesterday, 15 October, an unnamed Member of Parliament (MP) was among eight people who were fined by enforcers for smoking in Parliament on the same day the building was declared smoke-free
Malaysiakini reported that the fines were issued yesterday after enforcers from the Health Ministry were deployed to "smoking hotspots" in the Parliament building.
"We are monitoring the whole Parliament building. We deployed some 23 to 25 enforcers," Health Ministry's tobacco control unit chief Ariana Hassan was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini.
Nonetheless, she declined to name the MP who was fined.
The fines were issued under the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004
It is stipulated under the Regulations that anyone caught smoking in a prohibited area faces a maximum fine of RM500.
Failure in settling the initial fine could lead to an additional RM10,000 fine, or a jail term of two months, or both.
Ariana added that the building will continue to be monitored for the entire length of the current Parliament sitting
According to Malaysiakini, the Dewan Rakyat sitting will end on 29 November while the Dewan Negara sitting will conclude on 20 December.
China Press reported that enforcers were spotted advising Parliament staff and MPs to stop smoking in the building.
The enforcement came after Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad declared the Parliament building a smoke-free zone effective yesterday.