FMT’s checks in certain areas here and in Subang Jaya found a handful of smokers lighting up in the restaurants, although in most eateries, no patrons were seen smoking.

One smoker, who only wanted to be known as Dominic, seen smoking at a Thai restaurant, said he felt the ban was unfair to smokers.

“If you ban smoking inside the restaurant, I think it is fair. But if the restaurant has an outdoor section, then you should be allowed to smoke there because it is an open-air area.”

Dominic said forcing smokers to light up 3m away from a restaurant would see them being forced to smoke in unsafe areas, like the roadside or alleys behind or at the side of a restaurant.

“It is especially unsafe for female smokers. They will be more prone to snatch thefts.”

Dominic said he mostly smoked when hanging out at mamak restaurants. He said he was less likely to hang out in such places and opt for other venues where he could smoke.

Jacky (not his real name) said he will continue to smoke in restaurants so long as he sees that the ban is not being strongly enforced.

“If there is enforcement, I may actually reduce smoking because the punishment for doing so is too excessive,” he said, as he lit a cigarette at an eatery in SS14.

Customers caught smoking in eateries can be fined a maximum of RM10,000 or jailed up to two years. Restaurant operators who fail to put up no-smoking signs face a fine not exceeding RM3,000 or jail time of up to six months.

Restaurant owners can also be fined RM5,000 or jailed six months if they allow smoking on their premises.

Jacky said he only smoked outside the home, out of consideration for his parents. He believes restaurants should be allowed to have smoking sections.

“If I see the government is really strict about enforcing the rule, then I will just go and smoke in vape shops.”

For Alex Tan, who works in the construction industry, the ban is reasonable as it will help prevent second-hand smoke.

Tan, who was smoking more than 7m away from where he was dining, said it wasn’t “a big deal” for smokers to walk a short distance from where they were eating.

“I will probably smoke less after this.”

Desonny Tuzan, who owns Charlie’s Cafe in Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur, said he had a customer who wanted to light up at his restaurant today.

He said the customer had asked for an ashtray as they had already removed them due to the smoking ban.

“She said she didn’t care about the ban. She cooled down when I told her that her smoking at my restaurant could cost her a RM10,000 fine and I can also be fined RM5,000.

“She kept quiet but after her meal, she took my chair down the road to smoke in front of another shop, which was closed.

“The good thing is she returned the chair.”

In SS15, several shisha shops were seen setting up business for the day, with an employee of one shop, a foreign worker, saying he was not sure whether they would actually open for business.

“I’m waiting for my boss’s instruction on whether we can sell. Now, we are just preparing for business,” he said.

Premises where smoking is prohibited include eateries in shop lots and on private land or any other place that serves food, such as food trucks and food stalls. Restaurants serving food “on air”, such as rooftop restaurants, are also included.

Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said today the government will enforce the compound fines after six months. He said Putrajaya will go ahead with the enforcement despite protests from smokers and restaurant owners.