NIOSH LAUDS GOVT MOVE FOR MORE SMOKE-FREE ZONES

KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 (Bernama) -- The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) lauded the Health Ministry's proposal to ban
smoking in more areas, including air-conditioned offices.

Its chairman, Lee Lam Thye, said the proposal was indeed appropriate
to ensure the health and quality of life of non-smokers.

"With more smoke-free zones, the focus now will be to get the cooperation
from the public to adhere to the ruling," he told Bernama.

After having gazetted 20 areas as smoke-free zones, the Health Ministry
Saturday proposed that hotel lobbies and centralised air-conditioned offices
were also to be declared smoke-free zones.

Lee said the government should consider providing a smoking area for heavy
smokers to have a puff outside the smoke-free zones.

-- BERNAMA