Medan (ANTARA) \u2013 Hinca Pandjaitan, a member of Commission III of the\nHouse of Representatives (DPR), has praised North Sumatra Governor Bobby\nAfif Nasution\u2019s policy banning civil servants from using electronic\ncigarettes, or vapes, as part of efforts to prevent narcotics abuse.<\/p>\n
He said the policy was an appropriate preventive measure, as North\nSumatra remains Indonesia\u2019s province with the highest level of drug\nuse.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirm action is needed to eradicate drugs, including within\ngovernment institutions,\u201d Hinca said in Medan, North Sumatra, on\nSunday.<\/p>\n
He said the ban on civil servants using vapes had also received\npraise from National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto, who this\nweek described Bobby Afif Nasution as the first governor to take action\nto prevent narcotics abuse involving liquid substances.<\/p>\n
The ban applies to civil servants, non-civil-service staff and\nemployees of regionally owned enterprises (BUMD). It is set out in North\nSumatra Governor\u2019s Instruction No.\u00a0188.54\/3\/INST\/2026 on the Prohibition\nof Vapes or Electronic Cigarettes in North Sumatra, issued to all\nregents and mayors in the province on 3 June 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe governor\u2019s instruction calls for monitoring and the imposition\nof disciplinary sanctions on officials who violate it, in accordance\nwith the applicable laws and regulations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Hinca said preventive measures such as this should be supported, and\nthat the government must protect the public, particularly young people,\nfrom the threat of drugs.<\/p>\n
\u201cGovernment institutions must also set an example by implementing\npolicies intended to protect the public,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He added that the policy showed the government was not relying solely\non enforcement after crimes had taken place, but was also seeking to\nreduce opportunities for narcotics abuse at an early stage.<\/p>\n
He said vaping had become a concern in Indonesia because e-cigarette\nliquid could potentially be misused to conceal narcotic substances.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost importantly, this policy must be implemented consistently and\naccompanied by monitoring. The rules must not remain just words on\npaper. Public information efforts are also needed so that all officials\nunderstand the purpose of the ban and comply with it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Hinca called for the governor\u2019s circular to be upgraded into a legal\ninstrument or regional regulation, which would allow stricter monitoring\nand enforcement against violators.<\/p>\n
\u201cI appreciate and fully support North Sumatra Governor Bobby\nNasution\u2019s move to ban civil servants from using vapes,\u201d Hinca said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mp-praises-north-sumatra-governors-ban-on-civil-servants-using-vapes-1792943508", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }