His statement was in response to a suggestion from a member of the legislature (DPR) who proposed the provision of dedicated smoking carriages on long-distance train journeys.
"If there is fiscal space, it would be better to prioritize, for example, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, toddlers, the elderly, and people with disabilities," he said after reviewing the revitalization of Solo Balapan Station in Solo, Central Java, on Sunday.
According to him, public policy should be formulated by identifying priority needs.
Any fiscal resources available for the state-owned railway company, PT KAI, should be prioritized for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, the elderly, and people with disabilities, he noted.
"For example, a lactation room in the carriage, perhaps the toilets could be widened for parents to change babies' diapers comfortably. I think it is a higher priority. There is a scale of priorities in policy formulation," he emphasized.
Therefore, Gibran addressed the legislature member's proposal for a smoking carriage by reiterating that policy-making is guided by the community’s priority needs.
However, all aspirations for KAI improvement will be accommodated, he added.
Previously, DPR member Nasim Khan proposed that KAI provide a dedicated smoking carriage on long-distance trains.
This proposal was submitted during a hearing with KAI President Director Bobby Rasyidin on August 20.
In response, PT KAI emphasized that all train services will remain smoke-free, as part of the company's efforts to ensure the comfort and safety of all customers.
The Director General of Railways of the Transportation Ministry, Allan Tandiono, also emphasized that trains as a form of public transportation are designated as smoke-free zones (KTR) to ensure the health and comfort of all passengers.
The regulation refers to Law Number 36 of 2009 concerning Health and Government Regulation Number 109 of 2012 concerning the protection of tobacco products for health.
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Translator: Mentari Dwi G, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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