Those Who Ignore ‘No-Smoking’ Signs, Advisories Face Prosecution
By Khairunnisa Ibrahim

Bandar Seri Begawan - Smokers who ignore "no smoking" signs and advisories in areas such as hospitals, restaurants and public buildings may be prosecuted once the Tobacco Order comes into effect by the first quarter or middle of this year, the Minister of Health said yesterday.

Responding to a query regarding the enforcement of non-smoking regulations in prohibited areas, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Suyoi bin Haji Osman in a committee session of the State Legislative Council said that the Tobacco Order had already been drafted and most regulations under it had been prepared.

These include the Tobacco Licensing of Importers, Wholesalers and Retailers and Tobacco Prohibition in certain places, among others.

There are also plans to introduce warning labels on all cigarrette cartons, which will carry a sign informing the public of the dangers of smoking, the minister said.

This hopefully will be done during the middle of the year.

The minister also pointed out that despite the setting up of signs warning against smoking in certain areas, such as hospitals, these are not heeded by the public.

Once the order comes into effect, however, law enforcers will be engaged to ensure that the prohibitions are observed stringently, added Pehin Dato Suyoi.

Another concern raised by council member Haji Sulaiman Haji Ahad was the prevalence of shisha-smoking among youths in the country, including schoolchildren.

Shisha, or flavoured tobacco, is becoming increasingly popular.

Addressing the issue, Pehin D ato Suyoi said that the shisha-smoking is also considered as part of the Tobacco Order, and that appropriate action to reduce or even abolish the activity will be taken once the order comes into effect.

According to the Ministry of Health website, the Tobacco Order regulates the use of tobacco-related items, the sale, promotion, packaging and labelling of such items as well as prohibition of smoking in certain places and vehicles.

The order is important, the website went on, in order to safeguard the wellbeing of citizens and residents of Brunei Darussalam from the negative effects of smoking, particularly among children and teenagers.

Some of the leading causes of smoking-related deaths are lung disease, cancer, stroke and respiratory failure and other serious lung ailments.

The 2001 population census indicated that 17.5 per cent of the Brunei population aged 15 and above is smokers, the bulk of whom constitute those in the 20-34 age group. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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