TY - JOUR T1 - Worldwide news and comment JF - Tobacco Control JO - Tob Control SP - 291 LP - 294 DO - 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2013-051251 VL - 22 IS - 5 A2 - , Y1 - 2013/09/01 UR - http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/22/5/291.abstract N2 - Indonesia has a notorious reputation when it comes to tobacco control. While there are many reasons, nothing is as compelling as direct tobacco industry interference in the legislative process. An Indonesia weekly, Tempo, in an investigative report in the 27 June–2 July issue, recounts a series of extraordinary events in the Indonesian parliamentary process in recent years. According to Tempo, the tobacco industry is behind these shenanigans in parliament. Among other events, a clause on the addictive nature of tobacco mysteriously disappeared from an approved health bill. The Tempo report is also damning of how a new draft tobacco bill has been ‘smuggled’ into parliament for inclusion in the 2013 programme of national legislation (Prolegnas) for debate. Tempo reports how the chair of the legislating body himself submitted the draft bill and there seems to be an urgency to push this industry-friendly bill—which replaces an earlier tobacco control bill dropped by parliamentarians because it was not considered a priority. All articles written by Marita Hefler unless otherwise attributed. Ideas and items for News Analysis should be sent to: marita.hefler@sydney.edu.au Apparently parliamentary procedure was not followed in how this new draft bill has been introduced. It was not supported by an academic paper which is a requirement of legislation, and is therefore marked with a ‘star’ to indicate it is still needs more information and further studies. However, some supporters of the bill among the law makers have already started campaigning in favour of it in the provinces. Calling this a ‘manoeuvre’, Tempo accuses the legislators of clearly moving in the opposite direction of tobacco control advocates and public health. Tempo quotes political faction leaders claiming this bill is sponsored by the tobacco industry; specifically PT Sampoerna, which is owned by Philip Morris International (PMI). Although the chair of the legislating … ER -