T

he Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) and the National Commission on Child Protection (Komnas PA) are calling on the House of Representative to ban cigarette advertising.

KPI member Ezki Suyanto said in a discussion on Wednesday '€” held to commemorate '€œWorld No Tobacco Day'€ celebrated every year on May 31 '€” that the draft revision of the 2002 Broadcasting Law should completely ban cigarette advertising on television and radio.

'€œThe public have the right to not be bombarded with things that could endanger their health. The current regulation to limit tobacco advertising is not enough,'€ she added.

Lisda Sundari of Komnas PA voiced similar demands, saying that tobacco companies were inappropriately targeting the younger generation at cultural or sports events, including those broadcast on television during the day.

'€œTobacco companies interpreted corporate social responsibility [CSR] wrongly; by sponsoring sporting events or scholarships to reach the young generation,'€ Lisda said. '€œ[A more suitable program] would be compensation for people suffering the consequences of smoking,'€ she added.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.3 million people die from tobacco-related illnesses every year in Southeast Asia. The WHO said a ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship was one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce tobacco demand.

According to Lisda, Indonesia was the only country in ASEAN that still allowed cigarette advertising.

In December last year, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono issued Government Regulation (PP) No. 109/2012 on tobacco control, which placed tighter restrictions on tobacco advertising. Under the regulation, cigarette makers can still advertise outdoors, but adverts cannot be larger than 72 square meters.

Other restrictions include a ban against tobacco ads alongside main roads. Cigarette brands are not allowed to place ads on the front page of publications and they are not allowed advertise next to food and beverage adverts. In addition, on television adverts may only be aired between 9.30 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Broadcasting Law No. 32/2002 stipulates a Rp 10 billion (US$1.02 million) fine for broadcasting companies that air cigarette ads during the prohibited time. However, Ezky said, the sanction could not yet be executed, as the government had not regulated a body to collect the fine.

'€œEven though tobacco companies are not allowed to advertise their products before 9.30 p.m., advertisements are still aired at this time, and the government can do nothing about it,'€ Ezky said.

The House of Representatives formally included the tobacco bill on its priority list despite the bill causing controversy, due to its trade aspects, which it was feared would further protect cigarette industries.

Last year, the government reaped Rp 79.9 trillion in cigarette tax revenue, while on the other hand the country saw economic losses and health costs from smoking-associated diseases of Rp 240 trillion.