Tobacco Order Comes Into Effect From Feb 1
By Dina Junaidi

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Tobacco Order which will be fully enforced by the Ministry of Health next month has the support of many locals in the country. After a final grace period of six months, which had started last August 2007, the Order will come into effect on February 1. The order aims to reduce consumption of "tobacco products" which include cigarettes, cigars or any other forms of tobacco including any mixture containing tobacco. The consumption of such products will be prohibited in public areas.

The order also makes it an offence to smoke in certain public places and vehicles and anyone found guilty of violating the order will face a fine not exceeding $1,000.

Furthermore, the order requires that managers of specified places or an operator of specified vehicles to display notices which states that smoking is prohibited by law.

Also, the purpose of the order is to deter and ultimately eliminate under age smoking which currently is a common habit in the country.

During an interview with The Brunei Times, Siti Zuhrini Hj Kahan, a student, said that it is a good step by the Ministry of Health because at least the public would then realise that smoking is bad for health, not just for the smokers but also to the passive smokers.

"What I think is important to make the order a success is that the government should ban smoking by its employees. They should be the one who should stop smoking in public areas, setting an example for other to follow," she further added.

Hjh Noor Attahira Hj Noor Kaseh, a student from IGS College, •said that prohibiting smoking in public would be a good start for a healthy lifestyle because according to her, smoke of tobacco is polluting the air.

"It's not a good sight to see people puffing smoke in the air in public places like restaurants especially the under age smokers and women," she said.

"If the Tobacco Order is enforced effectively, I think it will be a success because it's a right step in the direction of reducing the number of smokers in Brunei," said Mohd Zulhilmi DP Hi Zainal, a worker from a private medical supplier company.

He also went on to say that by having this order, smokers will be encouraged to kick the habit and they will learn more about the negative effects of smoking.

A staff from BIBD At Tamwil, Khairil Zakry Hj Tusin said that Brunei is not the first country to enforce such order but other countries such as Singapore have already imposed such ban. If other countries can achieve success in enforcing this order then why not Brunei, he asked.

"Brunei should be strict when it comes to fines. People found guilty should be dealt with strictly. I think the government should organise a public campaign to inform people about the order," he added.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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