Malaysian Foreign Minister faces fine for smoking in banned places
Last Updated on December 21, 2024 5:46 am
Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamed Hassan will be fined for smoking in a banned place, the country’s Health Minister Julkafly Ahmad has said.
Arab News reported that a photo of Foreign Minister Mohamed Hassan smoking was recently shared on social media. It shows him smoking next to a restaurant in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
In 2019, smoking was banned in all types of restaurants and eating places in Malaysia. This year, the law was enforced more strictly.
After the incident, Foreign Minister Mohamed Hassan expressed regret. He said that he had received a notice from health officials. He is ready to pay the fine.
He said, “I am sincerely sorry. I will pay the fine. I hope this will never happen again in the future.”
The incident was widely reacted to on social media. One commented, “Whether you are a minister or a VVIP, a mistake is always a mistake. No one is above the law.’
Another said, ‘Lawmakers and law enforcement authorities, those who violate the law should be punished more than the public.’
Under Malaysian law, the maximum fine for smoking in prohibited places is 5,000 ringgit.