Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Bandar Seri Begawan - Ramadhan serves as the most appropriate opportunity for Muslims to practice self-control in several aspects of life, and some members of the public had opted to take it a step further and quit from certain bad habits.

"I've been meaning to stop smoking for a long time, but with the Tobacco Order in force, it's a good time as any other to slowly start quitting," said a 27-year-old man, who has been smoking for almost nine years.

He added that he was not going to quit the bad habit, however the month gave him the opportunity to cut down on smoking while observing the month of Ramadhan.

Another soon to be ex-smoker, Morsidi Hj Mohammad, had resolved to go cold turkey for the whole month as a way to slowly quit from smoking.

"It's not good for you, I know that for a long time, the addiction is too great but with the support of my girlfriend and family, I think I'll be able to quit," said Morsidi.

However, despite the opportunity to quit or cut down, some members of the public did not fully agree that fasting could help with cutting down or kicking the bad habit.

"The key is, it all comes down to the individual if they want to quit," said a private sector worker.

He said that despite the Tobacco Order, which has banned smoking in several public spaces, such as cafe and restaurants, many people have opted to smoke at home.

He said, "the month of Ramadhan doesn't make me want to quit, especially during sungkai (breaking fast) that makes me more eager to go have a cigarette, it almost have no effect on me."

Another person, Md Suhaili, who has been smoking for almost six years now, said that the month of Ramadhan did not limit the number of cigarette he had after sungkai.

"I dont think it's going to happen any time soon, I smoke 2-3 sticks a day, especially after eating, if I go hanging out I'd have more cigarette," he said.

Imams in their Friday sermons on February 15 called on Bruneians to be proactive and not wait for something to happen before finally realising and seeing the error of their ways.

The imams pointed out that smoking is comparable to suicide as the habit does not kill a person immediately, but the poisons in cigarettes cause gradual decay and can ultimately cause death.

The non-smoking areas have now been expanded to educational institutions, government buildings, offices, hospitals, medical clinics, factories, entertainment and amusement centres, cinemas, shops, shopping complexes, masjids and restaurants.

Also included are elevators, lobbies, toilets, buses and taxis. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times