Kuala Lampur, Jan. 10 -- Over 50 non-governmental organisations assembled at the National Cancer Society of Malaysia here today protesting Putrajaya's RM1 million plan to create designated public smoking zones nationwide.

Representatives from the 56 NGOs questioned the Housing and Local Government Ministry's initiative and demanded it rescind the plan.

Malaysian Public Health Physicians Association president Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar told a news conference that the group supports the move by the Health Ministry to ban smoking at all eateries, while only gazetting 23 places for smokers.

"The Local Government and Housing Ministry took the step to support the gazettement, by creating smoking zones within the Ampang Jaya City Council. W...