GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government’s efforts to make the state smoke-free have gained international recognition.
The state was accorded an award today by the Southeast Asian Tobacco Control Alliances (SEATCA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its moves to deter Penangites from lighting up in public.
The award was accepted by state Health Committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin during the 6th Regional Meeting of Smoke-Free Cities in the Asia Pacific Region at a ceremony in Hoi An, Vietnam.
“This award will spur Penang further in making the state the first smoke-free state in Malaysia (within) five years.
“This (recognition) has also made the country proud and is a significant (boost) in (our efforts to) promote a healthy environment and maintain a cultural uniqueness through a smoke-free campaign at the World Heritage Site,” he said.
Melaka was also a recipient of the award.
Kicked-off in 2012, Smoke-Free Penang (Penbar) was initiated to fulfil Article 8 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
Dr Afif said the programme is a smart partnership between the state government, the Penang Health Department, the Ministry of Health, the Malaysian Health Promotion Board (MySIHAT) and various non-governmental organisations such as the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (Makna) and the Green Lung, as well as the Penang Island City Council.
“It was initiated (with the implementation of an effective smoke-free policy) to protect the Penang community from second-hand smoke,” he added.
The programme began with the gazetting of six recreational parks in the state as smoke-free, beginning Oct 1, 2012.
This was followed by the prohibition of smoking in all buildings and public areas in the George Town World Heritage Site on July 4, 2015.
Joint operations are frequently held to nab smokers who light up in prohibited areas.
Keywords: Penbar, smoke-free, anti-smoking, Penang, Seatca, World Health Organisation, George Town World Heritage Site, Dr Afif Bahardin