A video showing a man allegedly smoking at Forest City in Johor has gone viral after he was confronted by a woman who told him not to smoke in the area.
The incident is believed to have taken place at Forest City Commercial Street in Johor Bahru.
According to social media posts, the incident happened on May 22, while The Star reported that the footage was believed to have been taken at Forest City, Johor Bahru.
Woman told him not to smoke
In the video, a woman could be seen approaching the man and telling him that the area was a no-smoking zone.
According to the video, the woman had initially spoken to him in English before switching to Mandarin after realising he could understand it.
She was then heard asking him in Mandarin why he scolded her when she had only advised him nicely not to smoke.
At one point, the man was seen holding what appeared to be a cigarette in his hand.
Another man stepped in
The situation later became tense after another Malaysian Chinese man stepped in and confronted the man over the smoking issue.
In the video, both men could be seen arguing while standing close to each other.
A person nearby also appeared to raise a hand between them, seemingly trying to stop the situation from escalating further.
According to China Press, the man allegedly shoved a bystander after being told to stop smoking.
Forest City Commercial Street reminded visitors not to smoke
Following the incident, Forest City Commercial Street appeared to address the matter in a lighthearted Facebook post on May 22.
In the post, the page reminded visitors not to smoke at the wrong area, warning that doing so could lead to a RM5,000 penalty.
Eh bro… don’t play play ah. Smoke here and later RM5,000 fly away already,” the post read.
It also encouraged visitors to enjoy the sea breeze, water sports, sunset views and food instead, while reminding them to smoke only at the duty-free area outside if they needed to.
The Facebook post was accompanied by photos of two staff members pointing at a “No Smoking And Drinking Area” sign at Fisherman Wharf.
Netizens urged visitors to respect local rules
The video has since sparked discussion online, with many netizens praising the woman for calmly speaking up.
Some said visitors should respect the rules of the place they are visiting, regardless of where they come from.
Others also urged the public not to turn the matter into a nationality issue, saying that the focus should be on public etiquette, no-smoking rules and respecting shared spaces.
While it remains unclear whether any official action was taken, the video has reminded many that simple rules in public spaces are there for everyone’s comfort.
After all, a public area is shared by everyone. The least anyone can do is follow the rules and respect those around them.
