Smoking at eatery: Health Ministry to fine, Tok Mat apologises

Summary

• Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan will be fined for smoking at an eatery in Negeri Sembilan, following viral social media posts of the incident.

• Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad stresses that “no one is above the law” and confirms Mohamad requested the fine himself.

• Mohamad apologises publicly, expressing regret and stating he would pay the fine.

Health authorities will issue a compound to Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan today for smoking at an eatery in Negeri Sembilan.

Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said an officer from the Seremban District Health Office will hand the Rembau MP a notice later in the day ordering him to pay the fine.

"The Health Minister's Office has been informed about the action.

"Honestly, Mohamad himself had asked the Health Ministry to fine him for the offence, and he told me that he will pay it," Dzulkefly said on X this morning.

The issue went viral on social media after a netizen posted a photo of Mohamad sitting at a restaurant while holding a lit cigarette.

He appeared to be in a conversation with several individuals when the recent incident occurred.

Following this, Dzulkefly posted a reply to the netizen's post on X yesterday, stating that "no one is above the law".

Meanwhile, Mohamad has apologised.

“If it has become a concern and an issue among the public, I would like to sincerely tender my apology,” he was quoted as saying by The Star in a press conference at Wisma Putra, Putrajaya.

“I will pay the fine, and I hope it will not be too high.”

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MP SPEAKS | Let's do what's right to protect people from nicotine