Andreas D. Arditya, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 10/14/2011 6:42 AM
The Jakarta administration has decided to impose a smoking ban at all venues and hotels used for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games later this year.
The head of law enforcement at the Jakarta Environmental Management Agency (BPLHD), Ridwan Panjaitan, said Friday that all 24 venues in the city have been designated as smoke-free areas.
“This is also in accordance with existing regulations banning smoking in public places, as stipulated by Gubernatorial Decree No. 88/2010,” Ridwan said.
The city will coordinate the ban with the Indonesian SEA Games organizing committee (INASOC), he added.
Hotels used by athletes and officials will also be designated smoke-free zones.
“Athletes, officials and other guests, as well as hotel employees, will not be allowed to light up at the hotels,” Ridwan said.
Officials from the venues and hotel management are expected to install smoke detectors soon.
Ridwan, however, said that there would be no harsh punishments for violators.
“Smokers will be told to extinguish their cigarettes or leave the [prohibited] areas,” he said.
The BPLHD is planning to cooperate with local non-governmental organizations and universities to help monitor the ban.
The administration introduced a ban on smoking in areas like community health centers, workplaces, places of worship, public transportation and areas dedicated to education and children’s activities in May last year.
Jakarta will cohost the regional event with the South Sumatra capital of Palembang, which will be the primary host city.
The SEA Games organizing committee has also made Palembang’s event venues no-smoking zones.
The policy was legalized in an agreement recently signed between Palembang’s city administration and the provincial government.
However, special spots for smokers will be made available outside the SEA Games venues.
