Dear all,

Thank you for signing my petition that was closed on 29 July 2020.

Here are the written replies from the Minister for Law and Minister for Sustainability and the Environment to questions raised by MP Louis Ng at this week's Parliamentary sitting regarding secondhand smoke.

Parliamentary Q&As:
1) https://www.mlaw.gov.sg/news/parliamentary-speeches/written-answer-by-minister-for-law-mr-k-shanmugam-to-pq-on-cdrt-smoke?fbclid=IwAR305MUgMLpWzh2-lDKxCc7t1VvCX8-9ZLxVAYbjMfHGKl4VO7QwJNEHdR4

2) https://www.mse.gov.sg/news/written-reply-by-ms-grace-fu--minister-for-sustainability-and-the-environment--to-parliamentary-question-on-measures-to-mitigate-disamenities-from-second-hand-cigarette-smoke-in-residential-areas---on-4-september-2020

Not to introduce more effective mitigation measures to help non-smokers who cannot escape neighbours' smoke during Work From Home is truly disappointing. 

I am among the 71 cases registered and among the majority that did not proceed to mediation because my neighbour did not respond. Nevertheless, I encourage all non-smokers affected by neighbours' smoke to apply for mediation (if speaking to your neighbours previously did not improve the situation) so as to more accurately reflect the number of families impacted. If we suffer in silence, policymakers will not know the severity of the problem and nothing will be done to improve our wellbeing. Please take action and let your suffering be known and officially registered.

My only consolation is that we've been spared of smoke drift for almost 2 months since the mediation letter was sent by the Ministry of Law to my smoking neighbour. Make full use of it. It's free! You the applicant only pay $5 if both parties proceed to mediation. See: https://cmc.mlaw.gov.sg/