Smoking Raid Held in PGC, Smokers Complained

Raid against smoking in public place is carried out by East Jakarta Satpol PP in Cililitan Wholesale Center (PGC), Tuesday (6/24). However, under the pretext of the manager and the government lack of socialization, visitors and workers caught on smoking were refused to be recorded.

There has not been socialization. Indeed I was smoking, but when the officers came I have turned off the cigarette. Why in the dossier (BAP) it is written caught in the act? I clearly don’t accept this

In the raid, 31 Satpol PP officers swept all stores in sixth floors of PGC. Cigarettes with its lighters of the visitors and workers are confiscated directly by the officers. The netted ones were recorded and asked to show their identity cards. Not only that, they were guided and gotten written warning from management party and Satpol PP.

Tumindang Situmorang (43), one of the visitors caught smoking, had protested he was not smoking when netted, but already turned off his cigarette when the officers came.

Kretek Community Voices Decent Smoking Areas

“ There has not been socialization. Indeed I was smoking, but when the officers came I have turned off the cigarette. Why in the dossier (BAP) it is written caught in the act? I clearly don’t accept this ,” complained the resident of Cipinang Melayu, Makasar, East Jakarta, who was caught holding a cigarette pack with its lighter when he was sitting in counter on 3A floor.

Meanwhile, PGC Customer Relation Officer, Maruli, said that internal raid is often held every morning and evening. In addition, no smoking signs were installed on every corner of PGC. For smokers, PGC management has prepared an exclusive open smoking area on the seventh floor.

“However, they (visitors) are not concern with all of that. As a matter of fact, they are still smoking in a crowd like this,” he expressed.

There are at least 20 smokers netted in this raid. They were recorded and asked to make statement letter with Rp 6,000 stamp on it. If they caught smoking again in the future, they will be processed according to Bylaw No. 2/2005 and Governor Regulation No. 88/2010 on non-smoking area.

According to Head East Jakarta Satpol PP Operational Section, Agus Sidiki, the raid is carried out to respond the complaints addressed by PGC visitors as well as management who were disturbed by the air pollution caused from cigarettes smoke in the shopping centre area.

“Socialization has been done a lot since last year by PGC management, but they (smokers) seemed to not understand it,” he stated.

Sidiki told that netted smokers are only given written warning letters. If they caught in act again, they will be bought to misdemeanor trial (tipiring) with a penalty of maximum Rp 50 million or six months imprisonment.