Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said he had reached out to Sarawak's Housing and Local Government Minister Sim Kui Hian who clarified that the state government was supportive of the public smoking ban initiated by the federal government.

This was after Sim said Sarawak was not bound by the federal government's ban at dining places.

"I am pleased that Sim and the Sarawak government fully support the health ministry's efforts in amending the smoking prohibition regulations involving air conditioned and non-air conditioned dining places including open-air ones," Dzulkefly said in a statement today.

The minister said he was informed that Sarawak will make the necessary amendments to its local council regulations so as to be in line with the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004.

Dzulkefly said Sim's previous statement had been misinterpreted.

Sim, in a statement earlier today, explained that when he said Putrajaya's smoking ban did not apply in Sarawak, he meant that the matter came under the purview of the state's own regulations which must be amended if the smoking ban is to come into force.

He said Sarawak had its own ordinances as the state had autonomy on the matter.

"Sarawak will have our own smoking ban, taking into consideration our circumstances and Sarawak local government ordinances and bylaws.

"As a cardiologist, I have been advocating anti-smoking my whole professional life and will continue to do so," he said.