SINGAPORE – Smoking will be banned in reservoirs and more than 400 parks islandwide from June 1.
Senior Minister of State for Environment and Water Resources Dr Amy Khor made this announcement in Parliament today (April 12), and detailed the prohibited areas:
1) All 17 Reservoirs
2) Five parks under JTC Corporation and in Public Housing Estates
3) 251 neighbourhood parks under NParks within private housing estates
Previously, Singapore Armed Forces camps and bases, and premises owned by the Ministry of Home Affairs had banned smoking voluntarily since 1993 and 1998 respectively.
These places will now be formally included in the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act from June 1, Dr Khor added.
Designated smoking points can be set up in these prohibited places, and the owners of these premises are responsible for their upkeep, The Ministry of Environment and Water Resources said.
Those caught smoking in these newly announced prohibited areas within the first three months from the implementation date will be given a warning. Following the warnings, repeat offenders can be fined up to $2,000.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) said that it will install “No Smoking” signages in the new premises. Bins with ashtrays in these areas will also be replaced without the ashtrays, while an education drive will be launched to update smokers on these changes.
Dr Khor said that in the long term, the government aims to prohibit smoking in all public places. This will protect non-smokers from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
grongloh@sph.com.sg
