Cak Imin Calls for Clear Regulations on Vape Misuse

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Coordinating Minister for People’s Empowerment, Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, stated that clear regulations are needed regarding the misuse of vapes or electronic cigarettes.

Cak Imin, as he is affectionately known, made this statement to highlight the increasing misuse of vapes, which has even become a new modus operandi for narcotics distribution.

“We must not be merely reactive. The government must ensure clear regulations, strong supervision, and massive education for the younger generation,” said Cak Imin in Jakarta on Sunday (19/4/2026), quoted from Antara.

According to Cak Imin, the government must not be complacent about the misuse of vapes.

In addition, he said that the changing patterns of narcotics distribution, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated, demand vigilance from all parties, including families, educational institutions, and law enforcement officials.

“Do not let us be complacent, because this could become a new entry point that we are unaware of, even in pesantren environments that we have long protected,” said Cak Imin.

Therefore, he assessed that environments in Islamic boarding schools and schools must be strengthened to prevent the opening of loopholes for such dangerous practices.

“The approach must be balanced. We must be firm against narcotics, but also intelligent in reading phenomena. Do not let us make wrong steps due to lack of data, but also do not let us act too late,” he said.

Cak Imin also placed great hope that the misuse of vapes as a container for narcotics distribution can be handled comprehensively through cross-sectoral collaboration.

“In this way, educational spaces, including pesantren, will remain safe and conducive places for shaping the character of the nation’s younger generation,” he said.

Previously, the Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Suyudi Ario Seto, proposed a ban on vapes with their liquids to be regulated in the Draft Law (RUU) on Narcotics and Psychotropics.

This proposal was made following the widespread findings of narcotics content up to anaesthetics in vape liquids circulating in society.

“It is a great hope for BNN that the vape ban can be implemented in Indonesia, because vapes have been proven to be misused as a medium to be filled with etomidate,” said Suyudi in a public hearing (RDPU) at Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) regarding the RUU on Narcotics and Psychotropics, on Tuesday (7/4/2026).