The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) says that people smoked on almost half of the mass transit buses it inspected in a recent survey, despite a five-year-old gubernatorial decree that banned public smoking.
The YLKI surveyed small public minibuses (Mikrolet), mid-sized buses (Kopaja) and large buses (Mayasari) in 14 terminals in Jakarta from June 14 to 30.
There was illegal smoking on 47 percent of 600 mass transit vehicles inspected by the YLKI, a substantial decrease from the foundation's survey in 2009 that recorded violations on 89 percent of surveyed vehicles.
The report shows that 51 percent of drivers, 32 percent of passengers and 17 percent of drivers' assistants (kenek) smoked on the surveyed vehicles.
Violations were recorded on 54 percent of 257 Kopajas, 47 percent of 139 Mayasaris and 38 percent of 185 Mikrolets, the report said.
YLKI representative Tulus Abadi said 40 percent of respondents reported they could not avoid inhaling cigarette smoke and 35 percent said that they ignored the ban because of lax enforcement.
"However, the public has participated in reprimanding those who are smoking inside public vehicles," he added.
Tulus said authorities should intensify monitoring and impose firm sanctions on scofflaws.
The 2005 decree, which was revised this year, stipulates that smokers have to smoke outside and that those who flout the rule should be fined Rp 50 million (US$5,518) fine or sentenced to a six month prison term.
Rahmat Bayangkara, head of environmental education at the Jakarta Environment Management Board (BPLHD), said his office could not conduct many surprise raids due to limited budget and personnel.
Each operation requires between 150 and 200 officers and a budget of Rp 50 million, he added.
The BPLHD and other institutions held a raid in Central Jakarta last year that saw 21 people tried for smoking offenses.
"We have yet to decide when to hold a similar operation this year. Law enforcement of non-smoking areas needs a lot of money and involves many parties," Rahmat said.
Gemilang Tarigan, a representative of the city's ground transportation owners group, said there were drivers who smoked despite his office's public campaigns.
"Supervision takes a lot of time, money and energy. I think it would be better if we use social control," Gemilang said.
Syafrin Liputo, section head of the city transportation agency's office for in-route people transportation, agreed that public awareness was needed to uphold the decree.
"Residents should be more afraid of the regulation than police officers," he said.
Ramli, who drives a Kopaja between Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta, to Senen, Central Jakarta, said frequent raids would be unnecessary if the goal was to stop drivers from smoking on the job.
"One officer at each terminal every day is enough to scare us and stop us from smoking inside vehicles," another driver, Budiman, said.
