Questions need to be asked to the State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian and even the State Government on the need to further delay the implementation of the smoking ban in Sarawak especially when it involves public health of the public here in Sarawak. The Federal Government has enforced the ban nationwide since 1st January 2019 according to the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations(amendment) 2018.
The State Cabinet has announced yesterday that they have agreed to implement the smoking ban at all eateries in the State effective 1st March 2019. They also agreed that the first 6 months from 1st March 2019 will be the educational enforcement period.
This will mean that the initial ban will be delayed a further month from now and the time where impounds will be given for the offense will only be enforced in September 2019, unlike June 2019 on the Federal level. I see no reason for the further delay and why the ban cannot be implemented starting from the 1st of February 2019 especially since they already had the meeting with their own relevant authorities and ministries beginning of the month on the 9th January 2019.
This either shows how Dr Sim Kui Hian or the State Government is either playing politics in delaying the matter, or do not take importance on such an important matter as it involves public health. Their actions in justifying their attempts to play politics on the autonomous powers we have is unreasonable, detrimental and merely opposing for the sake of opposing.
Fact of the matter is, the State Government has been trying to mislead the public in terms of our autonomous powers in the matter. While I am all for the autonomy that we enjoy in Sarawak, but while the state government has autonomy over the operation of all coffee shops and eateries in Sarawak, but that autonomy does not nullify the operation and applicability of federal laws in these eateries. The prohibition against smoking at eateries was provided in the Control of Tobacco Product (Amendment) Regulations 2018 under the Food Act 1983, which is applicable to all states.
So to somewhat create a perception of autonomy when there is none is somewhat irresponsible and in this instance, done at the expense of the health and security of the public here in Sarawak.
I have many times reiterated that the State government had ample time to discuss with their authorities and ministries on implementing this policy since the Federal Government has since May of 2018 expressed their intention to introduce this nationwide policy for the good of the people. However, it was only in December 2018 that the State Government chose to bring up the matter and only announced a meeting will be held on the 9th January 2019.
And now even after the meeting at the beginning of the year, the decision to further delay the implementation to March is somewhat unjustifiable and unreasonable as I see no reason why it should be delayed any further.
Thus I encourage Dr Sim Kui Hian to not delay in adopting policies that is good for the people of Sarawak and not just oppose for the sake of opposing. Our autonomy is there to safeguard our interest, and not to be used just as a show of power against the interest and detriment of the people of Sarawak.