Klojen (malangkota.go.id) – The Malang City Government (Pemkot) together with the Malang Customs and Excise Supervision and Service Office (KPPBC) Type Madya Excise, the Malang City District Attorney's Office and other related parties continue to strengthen synergy and collaboration to combat the circulation of illegal cigarettes. This was seen during a talk show in the context of socializing the Eradication of Illegal Cigarettes at Malang City Hall, Tuesday (15/10/2024).
Acting Mayor of Malang, Iwan Kurniawan, ST, MM who was a resource person said that in addition to repressive efforts through action, preventive efforts are also being carried out through socialization or education to the community to be aware of the circulation of illegal cigarettes. He also invited the community to play an active role in efforts to eradicate the circulation of illegal cigarettes.
"The Malang City Government is committed to combating illegal cigarettes. We happen to be in an industrial and educational area. We hope that the Malang City Government and the community will work together to combat illegal cigarettes in Malang City. The circulation of illegal or excise-free cigarettes in Malang City is indeed not too significant, but if it is not given attention, it could continue to increase," said Iwan.
Therefore, it is emphasized that the Malang City Government is strongly committed to carrying out the eradication of illegal cigarettes. Several collaborative steps have been carried out through various activity programs, such as socialization and events that provide substance to ensure that the massive circulation of illegal cigarettes can be suppressed.
"The steps we take to combat illegal cigarettes include socialization, cooperation and synergy with sub-district heads, village heads, religious leaders and the community. There are repressive and preventive activities, including collecting data related to illegal cigarette findings, then joint monitoring. Because illegal cigarettes have a huge impact on various sectors," he explained.
The impact of illegal cigarettes, from the health sector affects health because it can contain compositions whose content is not measurable or not through laboratory tests. From the economic sector, with cheap prices providing an opportunity to buy illegal cigarettes. From the industrial side, it has an impact on legal industry entrepreneurs, investment, and profits will decrease. So the impact of illegal cigarettes is a multiplier effect.
"Repressive and preventive strategies continue to be carried out to reduce and eliminate illegal cigarettes. I hope that all levels, the community, religious figures, the press and others support the local government's commitment to eradicate illegal cigarettes. I hope that there will be synergy and collaboration to eradicate illegal cigarettes because the impact is extraordinary, so that the synergy of all stakeholders must continue to be strengthened," he said.
Regarding the use of DBHCHT in Malang City, according to the instructions of the central government, 50 percent is allocated for the welfare sector of the community such as the distribution of BLT to tobacco farm workers and/or cigarette factory workers, 40 percent is allocated for the Health Sector such as health services and the provision/improvement of health facility infrastructure, and ten percent is allocated for the Law Enforcement Sector such as the socialization of provisions in the field of excise to the public, collection of information on tobacco products, and operations to eradicate Illegal Excisable Goods.
This is in line with what was conveyed by the Head of the Malang Excise Middle Type KPPBC, Gunawan Tri Wibowo, that the 2024 DBHCHT ceiling for Malang City is IDR 49.447.365.000. The common challenge is how to raise awareness among the public that the benefits of this excise will be felt by the community itself for development. So that efforts for synergy and cross-sector collaboration with various agencies continue to be strengthened, including inviting the public to play an active role in combating illegal cigarettes.
"Therefore, we appeal to the public, especially producers, not to produce illegal cigarettes. For sellers not to sell, and the public not to buy illegal cigarettes. As for distributors not to transport or distribute illegal cigarettes. If the public finds any circulation of illegal cigarettes, they can report it to Customs officers or Satpol PP," he concluded. (yul/yon)
