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Indonesia's highest body supports removal of clove cigarettes from cultural bill
Dangerous product: The National Commission on Tobacco Control criticizes articles in a draft bill on culture recognizing kretek (clove cigarettes) as a cultural heritage
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Dangerous product: The National Commission on Tobacco Control criticizes articles in a draft bill on culture recognizing kretek (clove cigarettes) as a cultural heritage. (Illustration courtesy of kompas.com) (clove cigarettes) as a cultural heritage. (Illustration courtesy of kompas.com)
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span class="inline inline-center">Dangerous product: The National Commission on Tobacco Control criticizes articles in a draft bill on culture recognizing kretek (clove cigarettes) as a cultural heritage. (Illustration courtesy of kompas.com)
The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)'s deputy speaker has supported the removal of articles acknowledging kretek (clove cigarettes) as Indonesia's cultural heritage from a culture draft bill by the House of Representatives (DPR).
'In my opinion, we don't need to include the articles. Why should we support the cigarettes, which consist of addictive substances?' MPR deputy speaker Mahyuddin told thejakartapost.com in Jakarta on Tuesday.
According to Mahyuddin, more restrictions should be applied to the distribution of cigarettes and the rules of smoking.
'There is no benefit to this industry. Most of the cigarette companies' shareholders are foreigners,' he added.
As for the tobacco farmers, Mahyuddin said that they could substitute tobacco with other plants.
'Why do we consider our land as only suitable for growing tobacco? The farmers are under the Agriculture Ministry's authority. If they can't grow tobacco, tell them to farm corn, soybean or other crops. If the concern is about the [livelihood of] employees at the cigarette companies, it is the government's duty to arrange other employment opportunities [for them],' Mahyuddin said.
Clove cigarettes are Indonesia's traditional flavored cigarettes, which blend tobacco, cloves and other flavors. The problem is cigarettes contain many poisonous substances and are dangerous to the health of users and others who breathe in their smoke. (edn/kes)(++++)
