Acting Governor Of DKI Will Withdraw KJP For Smokers, Observers: Evidence Of Easy Cigarettes Access To Children

Illustration of students smoking/Ministry of Health

JAKARTA - Jakarta Smart Card Revoking Policy (KJP) by the Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono to students caught smoking received support from the Chairman of the Jakarta City Citizens Forum (Fakta), Azas Tigor Nainggolan.

According to Azas, Heru's move to revoke the KJP of students who smoked was right. Because, continued Azas, in his home environment which is close to school, he often sees elementary and junior high school students smoking when they gather.

"This situation is very concerning and evidence that cigarettes are very easily accessible to children in Jakarta," said Azas when confirmed by VOI, Monday, May 8.

According to Azas, this policy is the right first step. He also asked parents and teachers to tighten supervision of their children.

"These children are a demographic bonus and must be the golden generation in 2045. Children will be the next generation of Indonesia's gold 2045. How do we get a healthy generation, if we have smoked from childhood," he said.

In addition to parents and teachers, the government and the DKI Jakarta DPRD are also asked to play a role in preparing by all means to create a healthy generation for Indonesia to minimize the number of child smokers.

"One of them, by immediately ratifying the Regional Regulation (Perda) of Non-Smoking Areas (KTR). The Jakarta KTR Regional Regulation will be able to control and regulate cigarette sales and advertisements. So that children cannot see, access let alone buy cigarettes. It has been 13 years since the Jakarta KTR Regional Regulation was also discussed and has not been ratified by the Jakarta DPRD," he said.

Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Harotno wants the distribution of the Jakarta Smart Card (KJP) to students in Jakarta to be right on target. Heru did not want problematic students to receive assistance.

One of them is if the recipient of the aid is caught smoking, the KJP will be revoked. This was revealed by Heru when giving a speech at the Provincial Working Conference (Konkerprov) to III of the Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) of DKI Jakarta for the XXII Service Period in 2023.

"I ask the Head of the Education Office, if the student who gets the KJP is caught smoking, the KJP must be revoked. This is so that the city can give it to other children because the local government's ability is limited," said Heru at DKI Jakarta City Hall, Friday, May 5.