SINGAPORE: As of 5pm on Thursday, over 240 smokers have been given verbal warning by National Environment Agency's (NEA) officers for not adhering to an extended smoking ban which came into effect on the first day of 2009.

Still, NEA said compliance to the new ban can be considered high as inspections were carried out in places with high human traffic.

Under the latest rules, some outdoor places and all indoor public places like multi-storey and basement car parks are to remain smoke-free.

Smokers are not allowed to light up in areas such as lift lobbies and within a five-metre radius from a property's entrance or exit.

But for now, no summons related to the new prohibited areas have been issued.

Tai Ji Choong, head, Operations, Environmental Health Department, NEA, said: "One of the key challenges is to raise the awareness of the public to this new ban, so we are actually adopting an educational approach where we work with building managers to help us in implementing and enforcing the new rules."

And that is what IMM's building management is stepping up to do.

Chow Chee Kang, head, Engineering and Technical Services, CapitaLand Retail, said: "We have had complaints from some concerned parents that smokers are smoking while standing very near to their children at the rooftop garden and playground. With this initiative by NEA, I believe this concern will be addressed."

NEA said most smokers in shopping centres are tenants at the malls. But during a two-hour enforcement operation, a few members of the public were also caught breaking the rules in the hotspots.

Since 9am on Thursday, some 100 enforcement officers have been making their rounds and most of them are plainclothes officers.

NEA said this is one effective way to encourage the public to adhere to the ban on their own accord, rather than be forced to comply only when they spot a uniformed officer.

First-time offenders caught smoking in prohibited places can be fined S$200, while those with subsequent convictions can be fined up to S$1,000.


- CNA/so