Province to limit public smoking areas

Wahyoe Boediwardhana ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Malang   |  Mon, 10/20/2008 11:23 AM  |  East Java

Smokers in East Java will no longer be able to smoke freely in public spaces as the provincial administration has obtained Rp 135.8 billion (US$14 million) for its 2009 budget from cigarette excise taxes to set up smoking areas in public buildings.

The Malang regency which received Rp 5.2 billion said it would provide smoking areas in the regency administration building, the Kanjuruhan General Hospital in Kepanjen and the regency legislative council building.

"All people including government officials and servicemen in the three buildings will only be allowed to smoke in the smoking areas," spokesman for the regency administration Kukuh Banendra said Thursday.

He added that councillors would also be allowed to smoke only in the air-conditioned plenary session room equipped with a pollution-absorber device.

Regency officials, however, remained silent when asked on when the regulation banning smoking with its harsh sanctions would be issued.

Subandiyah Azis, head of the environmental agency, said the regent would issue a circular asking people not to smoke in public buildings and spaces except in prepared smoking areas.

A harsh bylaw on restricting smoking in public spaces was issued by the Jakarta administration but it was found ineffective since it was not enforced.

The larger part of the central government's total allocation of Rp 200 billion goes to East Java. The remaining Rp 64.2 billion goes to Central Java, West Java, Yogyakarta and North Sumatra provinces.

East Java is home to three major cigarette producers: PT Gudang Garam, PT Bentoel International and PT Sampoerna, which contribute Rp 44 trillion to government revenues from cigarette excise taxes.

Subandiyah said the Malang administration would help repair poor environmental conditions in cigarette factories and would conduct other programs including establishing clinics and occupational safety and health standards for the workers.

Separately head of Batu health agency Ashadi said the municipality had planned to build two smoking zones worth Rp 258 million before the regulation banning public smoking had been issued.

Similarly head of Malang regency health agency Enny Sekar said the establishment of smoking areas in the regency had been planned for some time but could only be realized this year following the regency's legislative approval for the program.

Additionally, a similar program will be implemented by Kediri regency. Spokesman Hariyono said the regency administration would build 20 smoking areas total in almost all of the regency's public spaces -- mainly bus terminals, railway stations and general hospitals.

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