The Malaysian Insight

MUSLIM restaurant operators are urging the government to consider allowing them to create smoking zones at their outlets to arrest a decline in business, six months after a smoking ban was imposed.

Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners’ Association president Ayoob Khan told The Malaysian Insight that revenue has declined nearly 30%.

The same complaint was brought up last week by the Malaysia-Singapore Coffeeshop Owners’ Association, which said one in five coffee shops – or more than 2,000 – has rolled down its shutters in the last six months as a result of the smoking ban at eateries.

“There are fewer customers. The government has to allow us to create a space for them to smoke. It needs to reconsider (the ban),” said Ayoob, adding that the association’s 4,000 members are affected.

“The margin is thinner, but costs have not gone down. We need to pay workers the same salaries.”

Nazrin Shah, who owns the Fatima Gous restaurant in Sg Buloh, Selangor, agreed.

“In fact, our sales are down by 40%. Many customers who smoke complain that it’s too hard for them. We’re lucky we have a variety of food that caters to others as well.

“Right now, our profits are not much, but we’re facing the same costs.”

Malaysia-Singapore Coffeeshop Owners’ Association president Ho Su Mong had told The Malaysian Insight that coffee shops were the hardest hit among eateries because a majority of their customers comprised smokers.

“We are the victims of the ban. We are the ones facing problems.

“Some operators claim their business has dipped by as much as 30%.”

The association was among at least three food and beverage groups that had objected to the ban, which took effect on January 1.

Under the law, all eateries are designated as a no-smoking zone under Rule 11 of the Control of Tobacco Products Regulation 2004.

People are only allowed to light up at least 3m away from an eatery. 

The Health Ministry has pushed back enforcement of the ban from July 1 to January 1 next year. – July 25, 2019.