The Health Ministry said today that the entire Parliament building, except a small enclosed designated area, is a smoke-free zone but admitted that there were members of parliament (MPs) who broke the rule.

The ministry's parliamentary secretary said during a press conference at an anti-tobacco conference in Kuala Lumpur that the ministry was working towards ensuring Parliament is indeed treated as a smoke-free area.

"There are some MPs who smoke in the Parliament lounge and there have been complaints from other MPs. The Parliament is supposed to be a smoke-free zone and there is a special smoking area for those who need to smoke," Lee Kah Choon ( photo, right ) told reporters when questioned on the allegations.

The designated room is a glass enclosure with high walls and an open ceiling. Lee said that it is a 'nice room' which is equipped with a fountain and some greenery.

Complaints have also been reported of MPs who smoke in the public cafeteria, parliamentarians lounge and Parliament lobby when these are "strictly non-smoking" areas.

Lee added that efforts had been taken, in the past, by the ministry to address the issue.

"The deputy prime minister launched a 'fresh breath' campaign in Parliament last year and a clinic to help smokers quit has been set-up there," he pointed-out.

No laws to stop expo

Meanwhile, Lee was asked if a proposed tobacco exposition, which is poised to be held in Kuala Lumpur on November 14-16 this year, had the government's go-ahead.

He told reporters that although the ministry was concerned with the event, there is no law in the country to disallow the expo as Malaysia is a free-trade nation.

"It is not a government-funded programme. It's a private venture. We have to have a balanced perspective. We know the consequences of this (the expo) is bad but on the other hand, until we ban tobacco, there is no law to ban the expo," he said.

However, the conference's organisers, Malaysian Council of Tobacco Control, like many other organisations, have written to the government and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to urge them not to allow permits for the event.

Lee said that "he has been made to understand that DBKL has yet to approve the event" which is set to take place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

The event, which is also an international tobacco congress , is themed 'Emerging Tobacco Markets'. It is organised by Tabexpo Coalition, comprising Tobacco Reporter and Tobacco Journal International based in the United States and Germany respectively.