While most would know that smoking openly at public places is now an offense, but did you know that providing the means to do so to a smoker is counted as one too?
A vendor in Kelantan was shocked after he was handed a fine for hanging a lighter at his stall so that smokers could easily light a cigarette.
Kelantan vendor fined RM250 for hanging lighter at stall
BuletinTV3 reported that the fine was issued during the Operasi Selamat Paru-Paru (Ops Selamat PaPa) which was carried out at a food court near Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium in Kota Bharu last night (Oct 7).
This was part of the full enforcement of the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations for Public Health 2024 (Act 852).
The vendor was issued a RM250 compound under Section 18(1)(b), which prohibits providing any equipment or facilities that encourage people to smoke.
When interviewed by BuletinTV3, he claimed he was unaware that the act of hanging a lighter was illegal.
Previously, I didn’t hang the lighter, but many customers would come asking to borrow one without buying anything.
“Because of that, I decided to hang it up so that customers won’t simply use new lighters meant for sale.
“I thought smoking at eateries and displaying cigarettes were offences. I truly didn’t know hanging a lighter was one was well,” he said, adding that he will be more careful in the future.
Meanwhile, Kelantan Health Director Datuk Dr Zaini Hussin said a total of 11,784 compound notices were issued since October 2024 for various offences, most of which were for smoking in prohibited areas.
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