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e patient in these last few weeks ahead of July 9, as the respective camps and supporters of both presidential candidates must go all out to win. We will see who can campaign the best in the fasting month; at least Ramadhan might make campaigners less loud and campaign events shorter, as a result of the fatigue that comes with fasting.

It is during the holy month that Indonesians really wish for diversity of faith within their communities and workplaces, and surely within presidential campaign teams too '€” so those fasting can nap a bit while their non-Muslim colleagues hold the fort. But as campaigning must end a few days before voting day, we might see persistent efforts all the same from both camps '€” though, hopefully, minus much mudslinging among them in the spirit of Ramadhan.

The main campaigners face-off tonight in the fourth round of the presidential candidate debates. Vice-presidential candidate Hatta Rajasa from the Prabowo Subianto camp, and his rival Jusuf Kalla from Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo'€™s side will hopefully set an example and tone down the rivalry as Muslims welcome Ramadhan, so we can still have healthy competition and more information for voters, instead of more smear campaigns.

The vice-presidential candidates '€” respected because of their seniority and experience '€” who function as lead campaigners and vote-getters for either Prabowo or Jokowi, must set a good example, as the latest surveys released in the past week clearly suggest that this election will be a neck-and-neck race.

Fears have been raised over the possibility of riots in the event of a slim victory of one candidate. Thus, we welcome the security drills and simulations particularly on the part of the police.

Not to mention their continuous but low-profile alert on potential terrorists. This week, the police arrested an alleged accomplice of terrorist suspect Santoso, on charges that he was planning attacks at a number of sites in Jakarta around voting day.

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This week World Cup fever remains and like the campaigns, the fever is nearing its pinnacle; so expect many snoozing in their cubicles, as they will be watching the matches well before their pre-dawn meal.

In this first week of fasting, Jakartan will be adjusting to the routine, whether a soccer fan or not. Fasting means checking one'€™s temper; so the lengthy wait for public transportation will be among the tests of this personal, annual and mandatory jihad. Bosses will also be trying to be patient, as performance slows, even though Islamic teaching dictates that everything should be business as usual: fasting is no excuse for slacking. Tourists and expatriates will be adjusting too, to the shorter hours permitted for nightclubs and watering holes.

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As one writer in our paper suggested, Ramadhan might be good time to try to quit smoking as less people light up after lunch. Coincidentally, the past week saw the start of the effective implementation of the new government regulation on cigarette packs, where pictorial warnings must cover 40 percent of packets and terms like '€œlow tar'€, '€œmild'€, '€œlight'€ etc., '€” which for years have been the highlight of tobacco commercials '€” will be phased out.

This is a tiny step forward to curb the growth of smokers, including the youth, in a country known as a haven for the cigarette industry.

However, as expected, the industry has asked for a grace period of another three months to give it time to recall products. Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi sounded frustrated as she told this newspaper that any length of period would '€œnever be enough'€, her predecessor, Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih, died still hoping that the regulation would be passed.

Apart from merely imposing pictorial warnings, the ministry still faces obstacles in passing a tobacco law. Legislators say they are deliberating the ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and discussing how it could disrupt '€œnational interests'€, like the potential loss to millions in tobacco growing areas.

The fact that Indonesia was active in its formulation, but remains the only Asia-Pacific nation not to ratify it, seems irrelevant to legislators eying constituents and Big Tobacco as the country'€™s biggest taxpayers.

And with or without pictorial warnings, the '€œsmoking'€ areas in our cafes, even within malls, will likely remain full despite a city-wide ban against smoking in buildings. With such low public awareness, no wonder the campaign to realize the right for everyone to a healthy life is a grueling journey.

Even in this first week of fasting, the malls will be full as usual. Despite the plunge of the rupiah, people have started to shop for Idul Fitri. To avoid congestion take other routes apart from those passing major mosques, mainly in the first weeks of Ramadhan, as after that less people will feel like fasting and going for the mass tarawih (evening prayers).

May this holy month bring some peace and harmony, despite Indonesia'€™s presidential elections.

'€” Ati Nurbaiti