Malioboro to Become Smoke-Free Zone: Beware of Defiance, Immediate Fines!

YOGYAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Malioboro area has been designated as a Smoke-Free Zone (KTR). This designation of Malioboro as a KTR is regulated through several regulations. The rules governing Malioboro as a KTR include the Mayor’s Decree (Kepwal) of Yogyakarta No. 261 of 2020. This decision reinforces Malioboro’s status as one of the KTR areas in Yogyakarta City, which was previously established generally under Regional Regulation No. 2 of 2017. The Head of Satpol PP of Yogyakarta City, Octo Noor Arafat, stated that the new regulation on KTR, namely Government Regulation No. 28 of 2024, impacts the enforcement procedures that will be carried out by Satpol PP of Yogyakarta City. Octo gave an example that under the old rules, Satpol PP of Yogyakarta imposed fines through the court, but with the new regulation, fines can be carried out on the spot without a trial. “Previously, there were warnings and yustisi sanctions in the form of objects that required a trial process. Now, with the latest regional regulation, we are pushing for direct administrative fines. Fines on the spot,” said Octo when contacted on Tuesday (12/5/2026). He explained that the technical details for on-the-spot fines are currently awaiting revisions to the KTR Regional Regulation, which is still in the revision process. However, Octo did not rule out the possibility of on-the-spot fines being implemented without waiting for the regional regulation revision to be completed, provided that Satpol PP of Yogyakarta City is permitted to do so. “Although we are waiting, if we are permitted, we are ready to conduct on-the-spot trials together with the Yogyakarta District Court,” he said. In enforcing the KTR Regional Regulation, Satpol PP faces challenges. According to him, there are several obstacles that Satpol PP has faced in enforcing the regulation so far. The first is the visitors to Malioboro, who are mostly from outside Yogyakarta City or even from outside the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), constantly coming and going. Additionally, Satpol PP of Yogyakarta City and the Yogyakarta City Government cannot arbitrarily install signs or announcement boards prohibiting smoking in Malioboro. This is because the Malioboro area is a philosophical axis, so announcement boards cannot be placed arbitrarily.