Health minister supports MUI`s plan to ban smoking

Magelang, NU Online
Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said she supported the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI)`s plan to declare smoking haram (forbidden for Muslims to do or consume).

"I am glad to hear about the MUI`s plan, and I support it," Supari said after a visit to a relative`s grave at the Giriloyo public cemetery in Magelang Saturday (23/8).<>

She said she supported the planned ban because smoking was harmful to people`s health.

About the fact that the ban would have fatal consequences for the cigarette industry from which the state is earning a considerable amount of revenue, she said this was a problem over which she had no authority.

"It`s not a problem for the health minister but for the ministers of industry and trade. Meanwhile, I as health minister support the ban," she was quoted by Antara as saying.

While general chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Hasyim Muzadi recently asked the council to consider the effects of its edicts in the context of civil society, interfaith relations and nationhood, as ""we live in a diverse society and this country is not an Islamic state.""

""Any process of fusing Islamic law with state law must be within the framework of the Constitution and the prevailing regulations,"" he told a press conference at the PBNU headquarters here Friday. (dar)