DKI KTR Raperda Value Excessive, INDEF: Widening Economic Gap

Illustration of smokers or cigarettes. (Andreas Nast-Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The plan of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government and the DKI DPRD to complete the Draft Regional Regulation (Raperda) on Non-Smoking Areas (KTR) has again drawn the spotlight.

A number of articles in the draft regulation are considered to have the potential to suppress the economic sector of the small people, especially traditional market traders and micro business actors.

Head of the Center for Macroeconomics and Finance of the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF), M. Rizal Taufikurahman, assessed that this provision does not take into account the economic conditions of the lower class. The widespread prohibition has the potential to suppress small traders and break the informal economic chain that has been supporting the Jakarta economy.

"Don't forget that small traders are Jakarta's economic cushion. If the sales ban is implemented, the negative domino effect includes the decline in turnover, sluggish purchasing power, and increased hidden unemployment. This condition can suppress social stability and widen the economic gap at the lower level," Rizal told reporters, Wednesday, November 5.

According to Rizal, policymakers need to be careful because the KTR Raperda also has the potential to erode regional income. The Special Committee itself previously acknowledged that the application of this rule could reduce regional revenue by 50 percent from the tobacco sector.

"So, it is not directly cutting the source of revenue without a ready replacement. Therefore, the Ranperda KTR should prioritize a balance between public health and the people's economic sustainability," he said.

Rizal added that this policy should be designed proportionally and adaptively, focusing on education and regulating cigarette-free public areas without closing the legal space for micro-enterprises.

"Those who focus on education and public areas are free of smoking, still provide legal space for micro-enterprises so that this policy is inclusive and does not cause new economic exclusion," said Rizal.

Previously, the Special Committee (Pansus) of the DKI Jakarta DPRD had completed the discussion of the KTR Raperda on October 30, 2025.

The draft, which consists of nine chapters and 27 articles, is now awaiting further discussion at the Regional Regulation Formation Agency (Bapemperda) of the DKI DPRD before being facilitated by the Ministry of Home Affairs and brought to a plenary meeting.

"We together with the Special Committee will complete the discussion at the Special Committee level, resulting in 27 Article 9 Chapters. If the special committee has been completed, then it will be handed over to Bapemperda and Rapim," said Chairman of the Special Committee Farah Savira at the DKI Jakarta DPRD Building, Thursday, October 30.

Farah emphasized that the regulation on prohibiting the sale of cigarettes within a radius of 200 meters from educational units and children's playgrounds is maintained in the final draft of Raperda.

"So in terms of regulations we emphasize no, but later on in terms of requirements and affirmation in the Governor's Regulation it can also be done," he said.