KUALA LUMPUR: A minister has been fined for smoking in a restaurant. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan was fined and this information was released by the country's health minister. He puffed a cigarette while sitting in a restaurant in the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan. Smoking in a non-smoking area is a serious offense. Pictures of the minister smoking had caused widespread criticism. The fine was imposed after this.
Smoking was banned in all restaurants and cafes in the country in 2019. The law was further tightened in October. The minister was caught after this. The fine imposed to the minister has been informed to his office. The health minister said the minister himself should pay the fine.
Minister Mohamad Hasan has confirmed that he has received notices from the concerned. He has also apologized for the mistake. The minister said that if the incident has become a concern and problem among the public, he would like to sincerely apologize. The amount of the fine is not yet clear. The minister added that the fine will be paid soon and that it is not expected to be a large amount.
After the picture was released, a huge campaign was launched against the minister on social media. ‘Whether you are a minister or a VVIP, a mistake is always a mistake. No one is above law,’ wrote one person on X. ‘Lawmakers and executive authorities who violate law should be given a strict punishment than the general public,’ wrote another. The punishment was decided considering the protests.