Foreign Minister Tok Mat Apologises After Being Caught Smoking At An Eatery
"I will pay the fine," he said.
By Aleya Natasha Mohd Ali — 18 Dec 2024, 03:59 PM
Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has apologised after he was caught smoking at an eatery in Pekan Rantau, Negeri Sembilan
During a press conference today, 18 December, Mohamad, who is also known as Tok Mat, mentioned that officers from the Seremban district health office visited him and issued him a compound for the offence.
According to the minister, he had requested their visit as he couldn't return to Seremban due to his upcoming trip to Bangkok, reported the New Straits Times.
"I will pay the fine, but I will have to wait for the summons letter, as they only issued the notice [of the offence].
"If this [my action] has caused concern and become an issue for the public, I sincerely apologise," he was quoted as saying.
The Attorney General's Chambers has yet to determine the compound amount and the next course of action.
His remarks come after social media posts went viral, showing him smoking at the eatery
On Sunday, 15 December, a user on X, formerly Twitter, posted a picture that showed the minister smoking while sitting in a group.
"Reminder that restaurants are no-smoking areas. But the Minister of Foreign Affairs returned to the smoking area at the restaurant to relax," the user stated.
The user also tagged the handles of the Health Ministry and its minister in the post.
Following which, Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad assured that "no one is above the law"
He stressed that no one is exempt from the law under Act 852 of the Tobacco Control for Public Health Act 2024 concerning smoking in restaurants.
"After Act 852 came into effect on 1 October, I hold to the principle that 'No one is above the Law'," he declared.
Mohamad's predecessor, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, was caught vaping in the Dewan Rakyat in 2020:
