Parliament going to ban smoking at own home

[windwaver]

Haha you think they have the balls to do it?

 

[batdow]

Finally, no 2nd hand smoke will enter moi house and room.

u moved to landed?

 

[wackykid]

is so dumb... how to enforce this...?? and what is "near windows" ...?? easier to just ban cigarettes import.... treat it like marijuana...

https://mothership.sg/2020/10/ban-smoking-second-hand-smoke/

Ban smoking near windows in own homes: Nee Soon GRC MP Louis Ng in Parliament

A Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) has called for a ban on residents smoking near windows or on the balconies of their homes in Singapore to minimise the effects of second-hand smoke on neighbours.

Louis Ng, MP for Nee Soon GRC, chairs the GPC for Sustainability and the Environment.

Ban smoking at near windows at home

NG told Parliament during his adjournment motion speech on Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, that 383 people in Singapore died due to second-hand smoke in 2016, or "about one person dying every day".

The GPC supports a ban on residents in Housing Board flats and private apartments, which Ng proposed in his speech.

Residents' woes with second-hand smoke

Ng said residents have shared their experiences with him regarding second-hand smoke.

These residents have tried ways to stop second-hand smoke from entering their homes, but to no avail.

One case he heard was more than a nuisance: A baby with lung infection kept coming into contact with second-hand smoke from a neighbour's home.

What ban is proposing

The GPC's proposed ban will empower National Environment Agency officers to enforce what is currently an advisory for residents not to smoke near windows and on balconies, Ng added.

While it might appear as an intrusive regulatory approach, Ng said there are already laws in place, such as those against nudity at home if others can see it, to curb people's behaviour at home.

Second-hand smoke problem worsening

The problem of second-hand smoke has worsened over the years, Ng emphasised.

In the first four months of this year, the National Environment Agency (NEA) received 11,400 complaints related to smoking.

This marked a 20 per cent increase from 2019, Ng said.

The increase, he added, was largely due to people smoking in or near homes.

With more people working from home due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of cigarette-smoke disputes escalated to the Community Mediation Centre has quadrupled.

In a typical month, it used to be two cases.

It is now eight cases, Ng said.

Approaching authorities ineffective

Ng also said those who approached the authorities for help and sought mediation have found it ineffective in dealing with the second-hand smoke problem.

Ng said the limits lie with the lack of relevant enforceable action.

"Even when MPs want to help, they cannot seek help from law enforcement because there is no relevant law or regulation to enforce," Ng said.

Response to Ng's suggestion

In response to Ng, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor said there would be significant practical challenges in enforcement.

She said enforcement within one's home will "exacerbate existing concerns" about "infringing the owner's rights to his or her own private space".

Khor also provided statistics to show the small percentage of complaints of smoking in homes.

Out of the 11,400 smoking complaints received in the first four months of 2020, a total of 320 of the complaints involved smoking in homes.

In contrast, 6,310 were related to smoking in common areas such as staircases, corridors and void decks.

MSE, Khor said, will instead adopt a three-pronged approach.

This would work towards entrenching new social norms and greater social responsibility, examine more ways to facilitate productive conversations between neighbours, and lastly, work with agencies to study how such disputes can be better addressed by the inter-agency community dispute management framework.

Background

An adjournment motion allows an MP to speak on a subject for 20 minutes at the end of the sitting.

Top photos via Unsplash

regards,
wacky

 

[Kunkka]

is so dumb... how to enforce this...?? and what is "near windows" ...?? easier to just ban cigarettes import.... treat it like marijuana...


https://mothership.sg/2020/10/ban-sm...nd-hand-smoke/


regards,
wacky

They can use fan blow the smoke out lol

Posted from PCWX using LYA-L29

 

[tank_t]

They should isolate all smokers to one block of flats not near any parks. Around the block will draw a yellow box.

Dont say discrimination, when yellow boxes already being implemented

 

[I_am_unbelievable]

HAHAHA I KNEW IT, HDB IS JUST RENTAL FLATS.

YOU ARE NOT OWNERS OF THE HDB, THIS IS NOW PROVEN

 

[cnybuddy]

Edwmers are fake supporters for PMDs ban.
Banned already, flipped and kpkb.
If ban smoking, you will see kpkb also.
Here the people is hidden agenda.

 

[qwertish]

Tobacco tax should be use to build a smoking chamber (fully sealed with aircon) for every 5 hdb blocks.
Smoker can freely smoke inside and enjoy their life.

like this..

 

[Stealth_PL]

then where do ppl smoke?

Close all your door and window if want smoke at home so your smoke don’t leave your hse

 

[Stealth_PL]

How about those idiots burning kim zua make sure they burn in their house and shut all doors and windows?

Failed comparison.. you burn kim zua Everyday?

 

[Poomer]

All smokers should vote opposition. PAP is invading our personal space with this nonsense.

 

[Xaser74]

My grandma passed away, peacefully, at 92 years young, smoked since she's 16yo

Grandpa smoked since 16 till 45 years old. And have been taking in my grandma "second hand smoke" ever since

He just passed away at 94 years young, peacefully at home.

My dad's mistress passed away due to cancer, at 42 years old. Never smoked, isn't near anyone who's smoking and don't even drink.

So what's your point really?

 

[Temperance]

Finally, no 2nd hand smoke will enter moi house and room.

U are being selfish
Smoking is a way of life

U dont smoke yet u demand smokers to quit for u


Singapore government leaders rotten citizens like the above commenter also rotten

Singaporean core - rotten-

Everyone

Not-in-my-own-backyard

 

[Aaron_soh80]

bo ko leng. lol

u smoke in your own toilet they going to barge in and fine you?

If there is a law against it..pple will think twice before light up...

 

[Aaron_soh80]

use plastic bag and blow inside lor...

 

[Vegitto]

U are being selfish
Smoking is a way of life

U dont smoke yet u demand smokers to quit for u


Singapore government leaders rotten citizens like the above commenter also rotten

Singaporean core - rotten-

Everyone

Not-in-my-own-backyard

Likewise for the opposite.

Non smokers have to endure 2nd hand smoke?

 

[slumkia]

All hdbee blocks must have have yellow box for smokers
Kollect smoker billions tax everlee years still nose do anything for smokers
Curryna rah

 

[Darkshadows]

If there is a law against it..pple will think twice before light up...

No enforcement, people won't even think twice before lighting up the cigarette.

 

[nit3ex]

U are being selfish
Smoking is a way of life

U dont smoke yet u demand smokers to quit for u


Singapore government leaders rotten citizens like the above commenter also rotten

Singaporean core - rotten-

Everyone

Not-in-my-own-backyard

Judging from your reply, i assume u are a smoker.
So being a non smoker that i am, why are u so selfish to actually pollute the air that i have every right to breathe in (cleanly)?

U not selfish ah, why should i breathe in your smoke? U wana smoke is your dai ji, but don't let non smokers suffer because of your bad habits.

 

[wongkc]

just get each and every block of HDB or Condo... to vote... whether they want their block to be smoke free or not...

to promote healthier lifestyle... smoke free blocks are entitled to more rebates or GST vouchers in the future... health insurance premium got discount etc... smoking blocks will need to pay higher property tax...

after this... smokers in non smoking block can choose to move house to a smoking block and vice versa... in a one time move house + renovation subsidy...

it might costs money initially... but in long term i think pple will get healthier... and thus pple get less sick... less hospital claim... less medical fees... less downtime... all these are intangible gains which will outweigh the initial costs...