Restaurant operators face abuse, threats for enforcing smoking ban

Restaurant operators face abuse, threats for enforcing smoking ban

KUALA LUMPUR: Verbal abuse, hurling objects and planting pests in food are some of the unsavoury actions of recalcitrant smokers that restaurant operators have had to endure in enforcing the no-smoking rule.

Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Operators Association (Presma) president Datuk Jawahar Ali Taib Khan said the issue was widespread.

“This is common in restaurants, especially when customers realise the waiter is a foreigner.

“We even discussed this with the Kuala Lumpur police chief recently, as well as with former deputy inspector-general of police Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim a few years ago, and also the health minister,” he told the New Straits Times.

Jawahar said police had suggested installing more closed-circuit television cameras to record encounters in case they turn ugly.

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“Even if you call the police, the customer will usually leave before they arrive. This is the predicament we face as food providers almost every day,” he said.

He said some smokers would retaliate by secretly contaminating food and then demand compensation.

“Sometimes, they would put cockroaches or flies in the food and then cause trouble.

“We end up having to lodge police reports and seek legal advice,” he said.

Jawahar was asked to comment on a brawl at a Shah Alam restaurant involving a smoker and a married couple.

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Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association deputy president C. Krishnan said many of its members, particularly late-night or 24-hour outlets, often encountered customers who flout no-smoking rules.

He said these customers, often youths or groups, sometimes turn aggressive by shouting or throwing objects when confronted by staff.

“Of course, we have to respect them as customers. But sometimes they go overboard.

“They want to show off, so they yell at our staff and sometimes even throw things at them,” he said.

Krishnan said awareness of the smoking ban had improved slightly over the past three years, with many restaurants putting up no-smoking posters.

Despite this, he said, some operators were still fined for failing to advise smokers to stop.

Krishnan said limited staff sometimes made it difficult to enforce the smoking ban.

This, he said, had led to disputes between operators and enforcement agencies.

Krishnan added that most restaurants no longer sold cigarettes.

In 2018, the government expanded non-smoking areas to include eateries, even those which did not have air-conditioning.

Under the Control of Smoking Products For Public Health (Declaration of Non-Smoking Area or Place) Order 2024 enforced earlier this year, Malaysians who smoke in non-smoking areas face a maximum fine of RM5,000.

Deputy Health director-general (public health) Datuk Dr Norhayati Rusli had said last year that restaurant operators must take reasonable steps, such as reminding patrons not to smoke.

She said if the customer remained uncooperative, the owners should no longer be held responsible.