See you in court, health minister tells smoking ban challengers
Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad has expressed readiness to take on the legal challenge against the smoking ban at all public eateries.
"I have gone through the judicial review request by the seven individuals and their lawyer Haniff Khatri.
"We are more than willing to take them, to see them in court, because we know very well we are on firm ground...
Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad has expressed readiness to take on the legal challenge against the smoking ban at all public eateries.
"I have gone through the judicial review request by the seven individuals and their lawyer Haniff Khatri.
"We are more than willing to take them, to see them in court, because we know very well we are on firm ground," Dzulkefly said today at a press conference after a walkabout at several eateries in Cheras.
The minister said this in response to a judicial review filed by seven pro-tem members of the newly registered Smokers' Right Club against the ban yesterday.
Mohd Hanizam Yunus and Mohd Laisani Abdullah, along with five others, named the Health Ministry as the sole respondent in the application which was filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Among others, they had sought a declaration that the ban was against their constitutional rights, and for the court to grant an injunction against the ministry from enforcing the ban.
The seven have also sought a suspension of the ban until the merits of the application are heard and decided by the court.
Possible ban expansion
Dzulkefly, however, earlier said the government is looking to expand the ban to other premises where there is risk of smoke exposure for non-smokers.
Among others, Dzulkefly said areas outside coin-operated laundromats could be designated as non-smoking zones because many parents would take their children along to wait for their laundry.
In October, the ministry announced that smoking in all restaurants, coffee shops and hawker centres, including open-air eateries, nationwide would be banned starting today.
Those caught smoking in prohibited areas could be fined up to RM10,000 or face two years' jail.
Eateries found to have allowed customers to light up will be slapped with a maximum fine of RM2,500.
Smokers are, however, permitted to light up three metres away from an establishment.
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