Smoking ban still unimplemented

Nani Afrida ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 09/11/2008 11:06 AM  |  City

Places of worship in the city have committed the most serious violations of the ban on smoking in public places, recent data from the Jakarta Environmental Management Board reveals.

"We checked 15 places of worship throughout Jakarta. None of them had posted no-smoking signs," the board's environmental pollution control division head Ridwan Panjaitan told a seminar on Wednesday.

The board monitored five types of public space last year to check on compliance with local regulations requiring smoking be restricted to certain areas. The board also checked health facilities, workplaces, schools and public transportation.

He said many people still smoked in the parking lots and yards surrounding mosques, churches and temples.

Speaking during the seminar on obstacles to the implementation of the smoking ban bylaw, held by the Indonesian Consumers Foundation, Ridwan said schools and universities ranked second in number of violations.

"We found many teachers and students were smoking, especially in universities. It's probably harder to forbid university students to smoke than high school students," said Ridwan.

The board's findings drowned out complaints from several religious leaders.

Widyo Soewondo from one Catholic church said no one was allowed to smoke there, though no written regulation has been posted, the congregates are aware.

"It's weird if the board's evaluation is based on non-smoking signs on the wall," said Widyo.

Udayana Sanggih from Hindu Darma temple, who also attended the seminar, agreed.

"Hindus never smoke when they visit temple. It would be impolite to do such a thing."

The Jakarta administration passed a bylaw in 2005 on air pollution which regulates smoking in public places.

Anyone who violates the bylaw may face up to six months in jail or a maximum Rp 50 million (US$5,322) fine.

During the same seminar the Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta) announced its survey results on how the ban was playing out in 58 shopping malls in Jakarta.

The survey, held early this year, showed more than 55 percent of smokers were still smoking in malls because no authorities sanctioned them.

"People still don't know about this. They need stricter law enforcement to make them obey the regulations," said Fakta head Tubagus Haryo Karbyanto.

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MOhammad ALi (not verified) — Thu, 09/11/2008 - 9:30pm

The regulations on no smoking in public areas are written, but no one is willing to enforce them. There are many malls, shops, buses and minicabs where people smoke freely, with no respect or consideration to other people's rights. Something must be done about it. Not only the public services should emphasize on the regulations, but harsh fines must be put on working to give some leverage to the regulations. Also, selling cigarettes should be prohibited to anyone younger than 18, and anyone caught should be fined accordingly.

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