MCC to provide special zones for smokers, says mayor
MIRI: The Miri City Council (MCC) will set up designated zones for smokers to prevent them from smoking in public areas, where the smoking ban is enforced.
According to Miri Mayor Adam Yii, this would be a good approach now that the smoking ban is fully enforced on all eateries.
“They can smoke but only at designated areas; otherwise actions would be taken against them based on the law,” he told reporters here.
At the moment, there is no such zone for smokers.
The council, said Yii, would study the matter thoroughly and come up with a plan within this month.
“The smoking zones would be set up at areas with restaurants or public parks. The ‘No Smoking’ campaign is an initiative of the Health Department and MCC will cooperate with them to come up with a plan.
“We are supportive of this no-smoking policy because it is for the good of all,” he told reporters after a ‘Meet-thePeople’ session at UTC Miri on Friday, where the deputy mayor Julaihi Mohamad was also present.
Ten complaints were received from the public during the session. They covered blocked drains, request for grass-cutting and tree-trimming, cracks in house, pet nuisance (noisy birds), road maintenance, potholes and the case of a person with mental condition loitering in a housing area.
On another issue, Yii said the MCC was working with Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) to curb the problem of birds’ dropping at several areas across the city.
“There are places that are specifically set up to attract birds, but sometimes, this gives us problem.
“Therefore, I have consulted with the SFC and they have promised to look at several solutions to the problem.
“Certain trees are attracting a lot of birds, so we are waiting for advice from SFC on what to do,” he said.
Pointing to a case in Centre Point 2, Yii said the problem arose from the covered roof built over the commercial centre.
“We had a dialogue with the people there and the majority of them think it would be a pity if we were to dismantle the (roof) cover. We have to find another solution because the birds are coming and their droppings are everywhere.”