Arrived at 7.50am.
Joined the meeting the Food Safety Unit had at 9.30am.
It was a pre-field work meeting for OP Raya (Festive Operation).
The aim was to compound those who smoke in public area (public areas in Malaysia are smoke-free zones).
Today we went to Mahkamah Sesyen dan Majistret Alor Setar (Alor Setar Sessions and Magistrate Court
They issued fines to those who were caught smoking in the court area.
Process: 1) A health officer notices a person smoking in a public area.
2) The health officer approaches him/her and immediately shows his/her badge.
3) The cigarette bud in taken hold of in an instant and placed in a container to be
used as evidence in court if necessary.
4) The health officer issues a fine to the offender and explains why he is being
fined, how and where he can pay the fine and by when he must pay the fine
and consequences of failing to pay the fine in a given time (usually 2 weeks).
The fine for adults who were caught smoking in public area was RM200 while those under-18 years old offenders were fined RM50. In addition to that, possession of tobacco by those who are under 18 years of age is also illegal. Offenders are given 2 months to pay the fine at the nearest DHO. Failing to do so will result in an order to appear before a judge in court.
Around 11am we left the Court and we to a bus stop.
The aim going there was to distribute ‘’NO-SMOKING” stickers to taxi drivers.
They also managed to fine a few people who were caught smoking around the bus stop area.
We departed towards SP at 12.15pm.
By, Sarwinder Singh.
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