With reference to the recent report wherein the Health Minister, Dr S Subramaniam, had said that a smoking ban on all eating places, including open air spaces without air conditioning, is just a suggestion to increase smoke-free areas, I would like to give some suggestions which may be of good use.

The intention of the ministry to increase smoke-free areas is commendable as for many years now, passive smokers (people who do not smoke) have been subjected to and are at the risk of being exposed to the hazards of exhaled smoke from smokers.

The Health Ministry should concentrate on designating and increasing ‘smoke zones’ for smokers in public areas instead of trying to increase ‘smoke-free zones’ in public areas which probably will be an uphill battle.

The whole country should be a smoke-free zone, and certain compartments in public areas made smokers zones.

This will directly protect the exposed non-smokers and indirectly contribute to the cessation of smoking amongst smokers (as it is no fun inhaling and exhaling smoke at the same time in a designated area with other smokers) while it will receive lesser resistance from business owners.

DR RAJ KUMAR MAHARAJAH is a member of the central committee of the Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia (MPCAM).