TEMPO.CO, Lhokseumawe - Mayor of Lhokseumawe, Aceh Province, Suaidi Yahya, has banned women from smoking in public spaces citing conflict with local culture.
It was said yesterday by Suaidi Yahya during the inauguration of Inter-Indonesian Citizens Radio (RAPI) Lhokseumawe, in Labi-Labi Terminal complex Lhokseumawe.
He said that Lhokseumawe City has seen young women smoking in coffee shops or cafes of late.
The phenomenon must be stopped at once before it become a new culture of Lhokseumawe women.
Therefore, he expected the owners or managers of coffee shops or cafes, to ban women from smoking in such premises.
“I call on coffee shop owners to ban women from smoking in public spaces. Because it is conflicted with the culture of an Acehnese woman. If allowed, it could slowly become a new culture of Aceh women,” he said.
If a woman really wants to smoke, she should not do it in public spaces, he said. “Find a confined place which can’t be seen by the public,” said the Lhokseumawe Mayor.
ANTARA