TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The chairperson of the Indonesian Empowered Consumers Forum (FKBI), Tulus Abadi, criticized a lawmaker’s proposal to the government that would allow cigarette factories to produce cheap cigarettes for poor people.
The proposal was submitted by a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) from the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction, Andi Yuliani Paris, during a working meeting with the Ministry of Finance at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Monday, June 15.
According to Tulus, the proposal is shameful and demeaning to the lower-middle class. "Only a DPR member from PAN is of that class and level, in understanding regulations and policies," Tulus said in a written statement on Thursday, June 18.
"It is very clear that cigarettes are an addictive product subject to excise, and consumption must be limited and controlled, especially for poor households."
Based on Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data, he said, poor households actually spend 10-11 percent of their income on cigarettes, while only 3.5 percent on food.
"This statement is tantamount to encouraging the perpetuation of acute poverty, and ultimately, they are easily fooled and deceived by village leaders and politicians," said Tulus.
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