KUCHING: Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Lo Khere Chiang wants smokers to be considerate and adhere to the smoking ban at eateries.
He urged smokers to take into consideration the current Covid-19 situation and the burden faced by the government.
“The whole administration and country, from the leaders down to our administrators and enforcers, are all stressed out having to combat Covid-19,” he said today.
He appealed to smokers not to put more pressure on the government, Ministry of Health, administrators and local councils, so they are able to focus more on pressing matters, namely combating Covid-19.
He pointed out that the pandemic is a matter of life and death whereas smoking is a long-term health hazard with effects happening over a longer period of time.
“Smoking is not life-threatening to that extent; we don’t die from smoking one cigarette overnight. But we can die from contracting Covid-19 overnight.”
Lo urged smokers to do their part by practising the standard operating procedures required of them, including adhering to the existing regulations prohibiting smoking at gazetted places.
“If you want to smoke, you should go further away to an open environment where the smoke will not get into the coffee shops and encroach onto the privileges of the non-smokers.
“In so doing, we are able to take care of the health of our friends and family who are with us.”
