Graphic artist Amirul Yahya, 37, who has been smoking for 15 years now, referred to the existing no-smoking signs in buildings, questioning how effective these had been.

“Even in enclosed areas in office buildings, you see people smoking at the emergency fire escape areas,” he said.

Under the Control of Tobacco Product (Amendment) Regulations 2017, he added, smoking is prohibited in areas such as hospitals, public toilets, lifts, government buildings and air-conditioned shops and offices.

“But have you ever wondered where the smoke smell is coming from when you are in a public toilet? Have you been to the public toilets at petrol stations? You often see cigarette butts lying on the floor, along with traces of cigarette ash.”

Amirul also voiced doubt about the health ministry’s plan to send officers to investigate complaints made via its hotline for reports on non-compliant smokers.

“Are you going to ambush these people who are smoking in the toilets?”

Adding that Malaysians were not ready for a “drastic move” like banning smoking at eateries, Amirul said the only way to tackle the habit was for smokers themselves to find the will to quit.

“A smoker will only be motivated and succeed in quitting when he or she finds a reason to do so,” he told FMT.

He also warned that implementing a ban on smoking could give rise to groups who would go all out to rebel against the law.

He referred to underage students whom he said resort to “creative” means of obtaining cigarettes such as asking adult friends to help buy them.

“Similarly, if you don’t provide a legal space for smokers at these eateries, it (the ban) will not stop them from smoking.

“They will end up looking for an area hidden from public view to smoke, to avoid getting caught.

“Does this stop them from smoking? No. Worse, there will be new pockets of smoking areas in public spaces which are undetectable,” he said.

Even a rise in cigarette prices appears unlikely to stem the number of smokers in the country.

Lina Chen, 34, said when cigarette prices rose to RM17 per pack, her friends who were smokers merely began looking for cheaper alternatives.

“The majority of my friends would rather switch brands than quit smoking,” she said.

“We all know that smoking is not good for health, but it’s like alcohol. It’s bad for the liver, but it’s also enjoyable, and an effective stress reliever.”

Chen also criticised the move to ban smoking at eateries, saying it was inconsiderate of the older generation, especially those who had been smoking for decades.

“How do you expect them to stop all of a sudden? They may not be able to cope with the withdrawal symptoms.

“The younger ones are generally stronger and will be able to handle it better than the elderly folks.

“Prohibiting restaurants from even providing a designated smoking area? I think that is too much,” she told FMT.

John Tham, 30, said the ban which was announced in October with less than six months before implementation was not well thought out.

“In many countries including Australia, although they have banned smoking in eateries, they still allow these restaurants to provide a designated outdoor smoking area.

“I almost didn’t believe it when my friend told me that clubs would be smoke-free areas. I was thinking, is that even possible?”

Tham added that allowing designated smoking areas would allow people to smoke without subjecting others to second-hand smoke.

Aida Nariman, 40, told FMT that the government’s ban on smoking would be ineffective as those who depended on cigarettes would find ways to keep smoking, by hook or by crook.

“I quit smoking due to health reasons. Some of my smoker friends said they survived even though they continued to smoke, but I needed to build stamina to pursue my hobby in hiking,” she said, adding that smokers needed to find a strong enough reason to quit.

The ban on smoking at eateries came into effect on Jan 1.

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.