Cak Imin Responds to Vape-as-Drug Issue: We Must Not Be Complacent

Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, or Cak Imin, has urged the government and society not to adopt a reactive stance in addressing the issue of vape misuse as a medium for narcotics distribution. He assessed that a more important step is to bolster education and supervision, especially for the younger generation who are vulnerable to exposure. “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 a written statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday, 22 April 2026. Cak Imin emphasised the importance of maintaining balance in responding to the issue to avoid excessive panic in society. “The approach must be balanced. We must not take the wrong steps due to insufficient data, but also not act too late,” stated Cak Imin in a written statement on Tuesday, 21 April 2026. In addition, the General Chairman of PKB also called for clear regulations to address the problem. He viewed the misuse of illegal vapes as a real threat, but its handling needs to be done carefully so as not to impact the industry that complies with the rules. In handling this issue, he emphasised the importance of cross-sector collaboration. The increasingly sophisticated patterns of narcotics distribution, in his view, require the involvement of various parties, including the education environment and families. He also reminded that supervision should be strengthened in the surrounding environment, so that there are no loopholes for the misuse of products that have been regulated. “We must not be complacent, because this could become a new entry point that we are unaware of, even in pesantren environments that we have long guarded,” he said. The vape ban issue itself emerged after the Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) conveyed findings related to vape misuse in a meeting with Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) on 7 April 2026. However, previously, BNN had also stated that the misuse did not originate from legal products circulating in the market.