M'SIA: MORE AREAS TO BE DESIGNATED NON-SMOKING ZONES

PETALING JAYA (Malaysia), April 24 (Bernama) -- The list of non-smoking
zones will be expanded from the current 20 areas to protect the public from the
hazard of cigarette smoke, Health Minister Low Tiong Lai said.

He said more public places and workplaces would be designated as non-smoking
zones soon.

"Anyone caught smoking in these zones can be fined up to RM5,000. If
convicted in court, the offender can be fined up to RM10,000 or jail up to two
years," he told reporters after launching the KDU College no smoking awareness
campaign here, Friday.

Liow said 4,329 smokers were fined with a total value of RM919,535 last year
for disregarding the non-smoking zones.

He said about 85 per cent of them had paid their compounds and court action
would be taken against the defaulters.

Liow also said that by early June, enforcement officers would take action
against producers, importers, distributors and traders of cigarettes which did
not carry pictorial health warning in packs or packages.

-- BERNAMA