Jump to full article: New Straits Times (my), 2008-05-26
Author: Aniza Damis
Intro: IT IS 11.30am. After one-and-a-half hours of work, a few workers slip out of the office and sneak a quick cigarette or five. Slowly, and in informal shifts so that the office isn't left too empty, the workers are joined by other colleagues, who all gather round for coffee shop-talk, a plate of mee goreng or a bowl of bubur kacang, teh tarik and an illicit puff.
No Smoking signs abound everywhere. They are ignored. . . . .
Whether the MPs like it or not, Parliament is a government premise, and hence, a no-smoking zone.
Two weeks ago in the Dewan Rakyat, Titiwangsa MP Dr Lo' Lo' Mohamad Ghazali, a first-timer in the Federal Parliament, expressed her shock at the discovery of MPs freely smoking in Parliament, which is supposed to be smoke-free.
She said MPs were supposed to be good role models . . .
So, after all that money has been spent, just how effective has the campaign been?
There's no need to spend a lot of money on surveys around the country to gauge the effectiveness of the campaign. Just one day in Parliament ought to do it.
So what? you might say -- smokers can be delinquent that way. Except, these 'workers' are Parliamentarians, and the 'office' is the Dewan Rakyat, and the cafetaria and lounge are in the Parliament building.
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