Malls help enforce non-smoking ban

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Shopping Center Association (APPBI) will help the city administration enforce smoking restrictions by asking its members to provide smoking rooms on their premises.

Andreas Kartawinata, APPBI Jakarta chairman, said around 80 percent of APPBI members had smoking rooms.

He said he would send letters to the remaining members to encourage them to adhere to the regulation.

"Each shopping mall is different. We can't force them to follow the bylaw because constructing a smoking room can cost up to Rp 30 million (US$2,500). It's expensive."

He said a lot of money was needed to install exhaust fans, separate air-conditioning systems and seats for smokers.

Plaza Semanggi is one mall declaring itself a smoke-free zone. It has three smoking rooms located on the first three floors.

Budirama Natakusumah, Jakarta Environmental Management Board head, said his office would continue to cooperate with other malls in implementing the bylaw.

"We will soon cooperate with malls in Blok M and Grogol," he said. -- JP