Activists Slam Basuki for Tobacco Sponsorship Comments

Tobacco control activists slammed Jakarta’s deputy governor after he said tobacco industry sponsorships should be permitted since they benefit students and the general public alike.
“It was very unwise of him to make such a statement on World No Tobacco Day. The statement is contradictory to Jakarta’s recent adoption of tobacco control measures, which were initiated before [Jakarta Governor] Joko Widodo’s tenure,”Arist Merdeka Sirait, the chairman of the chairman of the National Commission on Children Protection (Komnas Anak), told the Jakarta Globe on Friday.
“Jakarta is the barometer for other provinces in Indonesia. It is the international world’s gateway to Indonesia. If Jakarta is not free of cigarette smoke, we will be ostracized by the whole world,” he said.
On Friday, Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama said that Jakarta will still permit the tobacco industry to fund public activities.
“We have decided that if a tobacco company wants to donate money or become a sponsor, we will allow it. If they want to donate money to ‘Rain Water Harvest’ in schools, [they can],” he said.
“They will want to display their logos. We know it’s a risk.”
Basuki, however, insisted that displaying cigarette logos would not hamper efforts to curb smoking in the capital.
“It is indeed better that we cooperate with non-tobacco companies, but it doesn’t mean we are against tobacco. We are only controlling it, so sponsorships for student or school activities are normal. The companies make profit — that’s why they donate,” he said.
Basuki argued that Jakarta has been very active in promoting tobacco control programs by implementing smoke-free zones and banning indoor smoking rooms.
Tubagus Haryo Karbyanto, the chief campaigner for the National Commission on Tobacco Control (Komnas PT), said Basuki’s statement revealed that he was not familiar with a recent regulation that imposed certain restrictions on cigarette advertising, promotion and sponsorships.
“As the deputy governor, Basuki should have read the government regulation issued in January this year. Sponsorship is indeed allowed, but it cannot be published and the logos cannot be displayed,” he said.
Tubagus said that by allowing tobacco sponsorship, the government would put many people, especially children, at risk.
“Sponsorship, or corporate social responsibility, is basically a marketing trick used to target young customers. It doesn’t matter how generous they seem — as the manager of the town, Basuki should have known this,” he said.