Don't whip smokers, there are better alternatives
Fed-up WriterPublished: Jun 13, 2007 6:17 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Kudos to the Health Ministry's call to expand non-smoking areas.
However, I am disappointed that the chairman of the Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam - Dr Jacob George - proposes heavier fines and whipping to curb errant smokers.
Smoking is a human addiction. Does the president really think that whipping the daylights out of a smoker will stop a smoker from smoking? If so, he is sadly mistaken.
I'll say it again - smoking is a human addiction. The government should better put its efforts into expanding non-smoking areas, not to mention raising the prices of cigarettes and tobacco.
And are there TV commercials advocating the risks of smoking? If there aren't, make them.
Are tobacco companies still sponsoring official events? If so, stop them, period.
Are there smoking areas at public transportation areas eg, bus stops, train stations? Provide them. This can be just a simple 'smoking pole'.
Once non-smoking areas are gazetted, then total enforcement may take place. When implementation is strictly enforced through fines, verbal warnings or simply being escorted out of the concerned establishment, then errant smokers will find themselves on their own, literally.
Now that can be a huge deterrent to quit smoking. If that does not deter errant smokers, then they carry the responsibility of their own health on their own shoulders. Responsibility goes both ways.
An area where George can better spend some time on is on educating Malaysians to visit the doctor when they feel ill, and to ensure everyone has the right to basic healthcare. Most Malaysians are reluctant to visit the doctor because they are either too embarrassed to talk about why they feel ill or cannot pay for a basic doctor's visit.
However, I am disappointed that the chairman of the Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam - Dr Jacob George - proposes heavier fines and whipping to curb errant smokers.
Smoking is a human addiction. Does the president really think that whipping the daylights out of a smoker will stop a smoker from smoking? If so, he is sadly mistaken.
I'll say it again - smoking is a human addiction. The government should better put its efforts into expanding non-smoking areas, not to mention raising the prices of cigarettes and tobacco.
And are there TV commercials advocating the risks of smoking? If there aren't, make them.
Are tobacco companies still sponsoring official events? If so, stop them, period.
Are there smoking areas at public transportation areas eg, bus stops, train stations? Provide them. This can be just a simple 'smoking pole'.
Once non-smoking areas are gazetted, then total enforcement may take place. When implementation is strictly enforced through fines, verbal warnings or simply being escorted out of the concerned establishment, then errant smokers will find themselves on their own, literally.
Now that can be a huge deterrent to quit smoking. If that does not deter errant smokers, then they carry the responsibility of their own health on their own shoulders. Responsibility goes both ways.
An area where George can better spend some time on is on educating Malaysians to visit the doctor when they feel ill, and to ensure everyone has the right to basic healthcare. Most Malaysians are reluctant to visit the doctor because they are either too embarrassed to talk about why they feel ill or cannot pay for a basic doctor's visit.
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