Smoking in malls<\/p>\n
Over the weekend of April 17 and April 18, we happened to
\nvisit three malls in Jakarta -- Plaza Indonesia, Senayan Mall
\nand Pondok Indah Mall<\/p>\n
While the quality, selection and prices of the goods and
\nservices offered rivaled malls in the U.S., Singapore or any
\nother world-class city, there was one glaring difference that
\nsignificantly lowered the overall mall experience.<\/p>\n
That difference lies in the fact that although "No Smoking"
\nsigns are posted clearly and conspicuously in all of the malls,
\nthey are largely ignored. We have even noted on several occasions
\nwhere mall staff and security personnel are smoking!<\/p>\n
Why is it that the management of such high-class malls have
\nnot instructed its security personnel to be more diligent in
\nenforcing the "No Smoking" rule? It is a well-documented fact
\nthat secondhand smoke is as dangerous as smoking directly, and it
\nis equally well documented that the costs of maintenance in
\nbuildings which allow smoking are significantly higher than those
\nwhich do not. (As an example, the next time you are in Senayan
\nMall Food Court, notice how disgusting the plastic food trays
\nare, which have been used as ashtrays.)<\/p>\n
In these days of "Reform", when is Indonesia going to start to
\nenforce common-sense rules that are accepted standards of
\nbehavior in other developed parts of the world? Being considered
\n"World Class" is not an honor that can be unilaterally and
\narbitrarily claimed, but is an accolade that is earned by
\ndemonstrating conformance to globally accepted standards in
\nbehavior, conduct and mutual respect.<\/p>\n
May we first suggest that true reform can only result when
\nthere is mutual respect for the health, welfare and benefit of
\nthe other person, so we would ask that all smokers refrain from
\nsmoking in malls in conformance to internationally accepted
\nstandards of behavior. If they forget or are unwilling to show
\nrespect for their fellowman, woman or child, can we request that
\nthe mall management instruct its security to be more proactive in
\nfirmly but politely requesting individuals who are smoking to
\nimmediately put out their cigarettes?<\/p>\n
On an individual basis, if you see someone smoking in the
\nmall, why not approach them and politely point out to them that
\nno smoking is allowed in the malls, and request that they put out
\ntheir cigarette? If individual smokers are unable or unwilling to
\ntake responsibility for their actions, and the mall is unable or
\nunwilling to enforce no smoking rules, then perhaps peer pressure
\nwill work?<\/p>\n
PAUL D. GIAMMALVO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/smoking-in-malls-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }