Smoking officially banned in parks, reservoirs in S’pore

From June 1, 2016, smoking will be prohibited in parks and reservoirs, with the Singapore Armed Forces camps and all Ministry of Home Affairs premises formally included under the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act.

Amy Khor, senior minister of state for the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (MEWR), said in Parliament on Tuesday, April 12, the move is in line with the goal of a smoke-free Singapore.

For the first three months of implementation to give the public time to adjust, those caught smoking in the newly prohibited places will receive a warning.

But those who repeatedly flout the law in spite of warnings can be fined up to S$2,000.

Smoking has been banned on SAF camps and bases and MHA premises voluntarily since 1993 and 1998 respectively, with special designated areas set aside for smoking only.

Smoking will also be prohibited in all reservoirs and more than 400 parks, including neighborhood parks in residential estates as well as those under JTC Corporation.

The installation of “No Smoking” signage within the new premises will be ensured, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said.

Bins with ashtrays will be shifted or replaced with bins without ashtrays.

The previous smoking prohibition was extended in 2013.

There are now more than 32,000 premises and locations where smoking is prohibited.

Khor, who is also the MP for Hong Kah North, said cigarette butts are one of the most common pieces of litter found in Singapore.

The authorities have spent as much as $120 million each year to keep public spaces clean, with some places like Orchard Road being cleaned as often as every two hours, she added.

In 2015, about 17,000 tickets were issued for smoking in prohibited areas, said NEA.

In the same year, more than 26,000 tickets were issued to littering offenders, which were a third more than in 2014.

Khor said: “Some 1,300 repeat offenders were issued with corrective work order. While enforcement officers will continue to take action against such irresponsible behavior, they cannot be everywhere all the time.”

 

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- Belmont Lay