Smokers will have to control their habit when the 12th Penang legislative assembly sits for the first time this year between April 20 and 28 as the state government has officially declared the assembly and its vicinity as a 'smoke-free zone'.

Anyone caught breaching the rule would be slapped with an immediate RM500 compound by on-duty enforcement officials from either the state health or local authorities.

Penang executive councillor Phee Boon Poh said the Pakatan Rakyat state government decided to enforce the long-standing rule that barred smoking in all government buildings to create awareness on the health hazard generated by the bad habit.

"It is also to discourage youths from picking up the habit and encourage active smokers to quit," said Phee, who is in charge of health, welfare, environment and caring society portfolios.

Since the assembly sitting comprised elected representatives who were lawmakers and policy makers, he said the House was the perfect platform to be declared as smoke-free zone.

"Lawmakers should abide by the country's laws and policymakers should respect the government policies.

"By banning smoking at the House, the highest lawmaking institution in the state, the lawmakers could lead by example," said Phee, who later officially launched the 'smoke-free zone'.

Also with an immediate effect, all government staff have been barred from smoking anywhere in the state while they were wearing uniforms, failing which, they would face internal disciplinary action by their respective departments.

Although the rule was imposed by the previous premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration, Phee said the rule was never enforced strictly, thus the state government had received many complaints on uniformed government staff, especially the police, smoking while on the job.

The state government has discussed the issue with health and local authorities to step up their on the state policy, which was in line with federal civil service policy.

Phee said the state secretariat had already sent out a circular to all heads of government departments, including the state police chief, to address the matter urgently.

House matters on agenda

Meanwhile the DAP-led Pakatan government will table several enactment bills on Penang State Loan for Batu Kawan Indoor Arcade and Seafood Centre Project, Loan for Water Supply Scheme for Penang state (amendment) and Chief Minister of Penang (Incorporation) at the sitting.

The Public Accounts Committee's full report on the ‘King of Tennis' debacle, and audited financial statements for year ending Dec 31, 2007 for the Penang Island and Seberang Perai Municipal Councils will all be tabled and deliberated at the sitting.

DAP national vice-chairperson Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim and PKR state deputy chairperson Dr Mansor Othman will also be nominated for senatorship for the House's approval.

A total 486 written and oral questions will be replied by the respective state executive councillors during the sitting, apart from other arising matters and political war of words.

The notable change at the House will be the sitting place for former deputy chief minister 1 Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, who will now sit among the Pakatan backbenchers as Penanti assemblyperson.

House Speaker Abdul Halim Hussain said he expected Fairus to attend the sitting since he had not applied for any leave.

Fairus resigned on April 8 as both DCM 1 and state executive councillor.