Recounted Eddie:

“I saw this incident at Toa Payoh, where a man was issued with an notice about committing an offence under Section 3(2) Smoking (Prohibition in certain places) Acts, Chapter 310.

“One officer from NEA approached this man and instructed him to hand over his identity card so that he can issue notice of offence he had committed.

“This man asked for the officer’s identity pass but the officer refuse to show his identity card.

“The man asked the officer what offence he committed and the officer replied him that he was smoking on the NEA premises and thus had committed the offence under the Smoking Act Chapter 310.

“From the photos attached, we can see that the area that the man was smoking in neither belonged to the coffee shop nor the hawker center.

“A gentleman approached the officer with a lighted cigarette and asked whether did he committed the same offence.

“The officer replied that he did not commit the offence as he was standing but not if he was sitting.

“At this point, more patrons from the hawker center and coffee shop gathered and voiced their grievance for the man who was issued with the notice.

‘This set me wondering about what is stated in the Smoking Act.

“1) The temporary tables at that area were not marked with labels about whether they were for smoking or non-smoking patrons.

“2) The officer claimed that the area and tables are NEA premises which I am doubtful.

“The temporary tables are set by the coffee shops/hawker centre which does not belong to the NEA. The area neither belongs to the coffee shop nor hawker centre.

“3) The officer had carried out his duties in such an unprofessional way which triggered much unhappiness among the patrons and three police cars were called in to handle this issue.

“4) The officer was also unsure whether the man had committed the offence and even called up his superior before issuing the notice and giving the explanation that they had received orders/agenda from the top management to carry out such enforcement. "

An NEA spokesperson, when contacted, said:

""The incident happened on 6 Aug 08 at about 10:40pm when enforcement officers from CISCO (engaged by NEA) approached a customer sitting at one of the portable tables set up by stallholders outside Blk 93 Lor 4 Toa Payoh.

"This customer was seen smoking at the table even though it was not a designated smoking table. In light of this, he had committed a smoking offence.

"As the offender had refused to furnish his particulars, the enforcement officers had to request for police assistance.

"We understand that while awaiting for the arrival of the Police, the officers were surrounded by a crowd which soon dispersed when the Police arrived.

"We would like to advise your readers that smoking has been prohibited in all eating establishments, including hawker centres, to protect patrons from second-hand smoke since Jul 2006. Smoking is only allowed at designated smoking corners/areas.

"Operators of eating establishments are required to put up appropriate "no-smoking" signs, and we would need to count on smokers' cooperation to protect other patrons from second-hand smoke."