KUCHING – Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus has been declared a smoke-free university, making it illegal for students, staff and visitors to light up on the campus from yesterday. (Eds:1 October, 2014)
The Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Anthony Cahalan marked the ban on smoking by destroying a mock-up cigarette at a simple ceremony attended by students and staff on campus.
“We all know that smoking is a major cause of cancer, disease and death. My grandfather died from smoking for 50 years. He didn’t know then that smoking was bad. Today, there is no excuse for young people to smoke,” Cahalan said.
“In many Western countries smoking is going down and we want to see the same in Asia.”
All Swinburne campuses in Melbourne are now smoke-free, he added.
The Australian campuses had banned smoking in August last year.
“You will have to leave the campus if you smoke. You might also want to take this opportunity to give it up. Smelly breath, disease and death – nothing good comes out of smoking.”
The no-smoking policy on campus will be enforced by Ministry of Health officers. Any staff, student or visitor who smokes on campus after 1 October, 2014 may be approached by health officers and asked not to smoke or to leave the campus until they have finished smoking.
Failure to comply may result in a compound of RM250.00.
Those who want to give up smoking can seek help from university counsellors, attend Stop Smoking clinics by the Health Ministry or download apps that can help them beat the addiction, said Swinburne Sarawak Student Services manager Esty Sharkawi.