Toothless Smoke
Everyone knows smoking is detrimental to health. Studies have shown second-hand smoke affect our health as well. Second-hand smoke has been proven to affect the health of everyone as well, especially the young and the vulnerable.
Everyone knows smoking is detrimental to health. Studies have shown second-hand smoke affect our health as well. Second-hand smoke has been proven to affect the health of everyone as well, especially the young and the vulnerable.
There are designated areas for smoking
in Singapore. However, many choose to ignore the law blatantly and smoke wilfully
as they are make their way to MRT stations, bus-stops etc.
Day in day out, you see people holding a cigarette everywhere, smoking while going about their daily chores, whilst walking to MRT stations, walking to the hawker centres. For years, the designated smoking area law is in fact un-enforceable. Smoking is not allowed inside the buildings. Yet, there are many who still smoke fugitively inside public toilets.
Day in day out, you see people holding a cigarette everywhere, smoking while going about their daily chores, whilst walking to MRT stations, walking to the hawker centres. For years, the designated smoking area law is in fact un-enforceable. Smoking is not allowed inside the buildings. Yet, there are many who still smoke fugitively inside public toilets.
In the Singapore Smoking (Prohibition in
Certain Places) Act, (Chapter 310, Section 3(1)), the penalties for flouting
the smoking law are not explicitly stated. Repeated offenders might even feel smug as they are able to escape detection and will feel the law is a farce
as given the large number of places where smoking is prohibited, it is not
possible for NEA to deploy officers to guard them at all times.
Owners and operators of private premises
and public places, offices, factories, shopping centres, are not effective in
stopping customers, visitors and staff from smoking in such prohibited areas.
The smoking law in Singapore ought to be tightened and enforced relentlessly. There should be more teeth given to NEA. To
augment resources to monitor smoking activities, citizens should do their part.
I proposed a website to be set up and allow the public to take photos of the
smoking illegally and post them in NEA official website.
Most smokers are die-hard and have been
smoking for decades. To expect them to be socially responsible and be
considerate when smoking in public places are perhaps wistful delusion. Active
citizenry involving the general public should be mandated to take photos of smokers
lighting up in smoking prohibited places.
This way, the offenders could be
identified easily, and the relevant authorities can act swiftly to apprehend
the recalcitrant. In addition, laws should to be amended so the heftier penalties
should be imposed on first and second time offenders. In fact, the 3rd
time re-offender should be even given jail term to serve as a serious deterrent
to the hard-cores.
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