In Malaysia, 21 areas are banned, including hospitals/clinics, airports, public lifts and toilets, air-conditioned restaurants, public transport, government premises, educational institutions, petrol stations, Internet cafes, shopping complexes and private office spaces with central air-conditioning.

Starting 1 June 2010, it is an offence to smoke in private office spaces with central air-conditioning. People who violate the rules can be fined up to RM10,000, or two years of imprisonment.

However, we still see smokers in such areas.  For example, I have seen people smoking in a hotel lobby, although a hotel lobby is a place with central air-conditioning. No one seems to be stopping the smokers.

In addition, if you go to any ministry office, you still find smokers although government premises restrict smoking. Cigarette butts can be found at the entrances to the premises and in the air-conditioned toilets.

Malaysian smokers are stubborn on this issue; they can smoke anywhere without a thought for the feelings of non smokers. We often encounter plenty of smokers at every mamak stall, coffee shop or even road side.

The government has put in effort to stop people smoking at public areas, but smokers at public areas still seem to be increasing in number. The major cause is weak enforcement and people’s attitudes.

Let’s imagine, if the enforcement officers are smokers too, how do they act against smokers who flout the laws? And, unluckily, I believe most of our enforcement officers are smokers.

Weak enforcement is the main weakness in Malaysia. The government has to stand firm on laws that they have come out with. In many cases, they gazette the law, but the enforcement people are not eager to enforce the laws.

In short, to make Malaysia a high income country and a quality place to stay, we really need strong and tight enforcement.

The writer is from the Malaysian Association of Standards Users.