by Phuah Ken Lin

GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA: Police criticised the Penang Government for announcing a blanket smoking ban in public areas for uniformed police officers without consulting the force.

State deputy police chief Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah said the police would not abide to the state government's directive blindly.

"We will not comply to the directive and will look at various legal aspects before deciding on the next course of action.

"Our objective is to scrutinise the directive to ascertain if it is legally binding to prevent civil employees from puffing in public.

"It is pointless to follow the state government's instructions in the absence of any stipulated law on the matter," said Tun Hisan.

He said there was also no need to follow the direfctive as the disciplinary committee within the force was adequate to take stern action against policemen who smoked while on duty.

-NST