Lawyer withdraws bid to challenge office smoking ban

Lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla has withdrawn his judicial review application challenging the ban on smoking in private offices.

Lawyer Nurul Huda Razali, representing Haniff, told the High Court today that there had been a “new development”, and that they wished to withdraw the application.

The matter was initially scheduled for hearing today.

Senior federal counsel Sallehuddin Ali, representing the health ministry, said the government did not object to the withdrawal.

Justice Azizan Md Arshad allowed the withdrawal of the application and ordered Haniff to pay the government RM5,000 in costs.

Azizan also reminded lawyers to inform the court beforehand if they intend to withdraw their cases before a scheduled hearing.

Lawyer Surendra Ananth Anandraju appeared as amicus curiae (friend of the court), representing civil society group Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control.

Haniff sought to challenge the smoking ban in private offices, arguing that the prohibition under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 was unconstitutional.

He also sought an order compelling Putrajaya to exempt his law firm in Kota Damansara from the ban, citing his heavy smoking habit.

Haniff argued that his employees and clients had long been aware of his smoking habit at the office.