Name : Anggita Hutami Ratnaningsih

Program/Class : Journalistic/1B
ID Student : 1906321104

Write your opinion by viewing that problem from the following aspects:
1. If you are non smoker you will say it’s awful sitting next to someone blowing smoke all
over you. But smoker will also say that you can not make smoking illegal. Explain your
opinion how to cope the problem?
2. If you are a government, viewed the problem from economy side and state income as a
whole: how will you cope this problem? Don’t forget that the cigarettes industry, also
absorb thousand of labors therefore can push the economy wheel!!!
Objectives:
1. The project to implement a cigarettes tax increment to 23% and 35% increment of
cigarettes selling price in the regulation of the minister of finance.
2. Government’s consideration towards that project: controlling the cigarettes consumption,
tobacco industry restoration, and increasing the income of nation.

Contentions:
1. It’s true that Indonesian cigarettes industry contributes 153 trillion to the income of
nation. (Citation: Kompas)
2. The Ministry of Industry noted that the total workforce absorbed by the cigarette industry
sector amounted to 5.98 million people, consisting of 4.28 million workers in the
manufacturing and distribution sector, and the remaining 1.7 million worked in the
plantation sector.
3. The tobacco industry accounts for nearly 96 percent of Indonesia's total national excise
duty 2019.
4. Indonesia 2018, the export value of cigarettes and cigars reached US $ 931.6 million or
around Rp. 13 trillion (exchange rate of Rp. 14,000), an increase of 2.98% compared to
2017 of US $ 904.7 million.
5. All the contras side considering the law of supply and demand. If government does
increment of cigarettes industry, they afraid it will affect the demand decrement of
Indonesian tobacco industry.

Argument:
Most of the people who contravene the increase in cigarette excise excuse are based on the
economic sector, especially the cigarette industry. However, in my opinion the advantage of the
cigarette industry that has been proud of so far is only a camouflage.

This opinion is not a blind reason only in the name of health. But consider environmental,
education, and social aspects.
 1. Quoted from the Kompas, smoking can cause cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease, heart disease, stroke, wrinkled skin, hypertension, diabetes, pregnancy and fetal
disorders, and erectile dysfunction.
2. The prevalence of smoking based on economic quintile in the population aged > 10 years
in Indonesia.
3. It’s obvious from the statement that the number of active smokers is dominated by the
age of the students. Of course there is a medical correlation between the nicotine content
in cigarettes and brain function.
4. The average number of cigarettes smoked is 12.3 cigarettes per day.
5. Cigarette butts consist of thousands of cellulose acetate fibers, which, although
biodegradable, can take years to decompose. Cellulose acetate fiber, like other
microplastics, is also a common pollutant found in ecosystems, even accumulating on the
deep ocean floor.

Considering aspects of the state budget on education, the environment, and the economy and
natural conditions. Based on these facts, in my opinion the government's policy to raise excise
tax is very appropriate if accompanied by supporting regulations that allow it.

Moderate thinking in a free world is indeed difficult but important. Money is not everything.
Money can’t always deal with the problems of every entity on this earth.

Source:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9RAwYxTOBQ
https://ekonomi.kompas.com/read/2019/01/03/100100626/cukai-rokok-sumbang-rp-153-triliun-
ke-kas-negara-pada-2018
https://kemenperin.go.id/artikel/20475/Industri-Hasil-Tembakau-Tercatat-Serap-5,98-Juta-
Tenaga-Kerja
https://www.depkes.go.id/resources/download/pusdatin/infodatin/infodatin-hari-tanpa-tembakau-
sedunia.pdf