BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: In 2019, Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) uncovered corruption involving regional heads and the Directorate General of Customs and Excise over cigarette excise issues, reflecting the tobacco industry’s interference in public policy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, governors from Central and East Java lobbied the President in 2020 to prevent excise tax increases, aligning with industry interests. Later, a staff member at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, implicated in a corruption case, turns out he was one of man behind the roadmap on tobacco industry.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: The Indonesian Youth Coalition for Tobacco Control (IYCTC) conducted systematic media monitoring of Governor and Vice Governor candidates participating in the 2024 regional election. Subsequently, we mapped out key actors connected to regional leaders, as well as organizations and tobacco companies. We also disseminated our findings through public discussions and challenged prospective regional leaders to pledge political commitments in tobacco control.
RESULTS AND IMPACT: Among the 206 participating governor and vice-governor candidate duo in 37 provinces of Indonesia, 7 opposed TC, 16 supported it, 17 were undecided, and 166 had no recorded stance.These findings are presented on www.pilihantanpabeban.id. It helps us to identify champions of TC, potential allies, and members whose actions may hinder progress in tobacco regulation. Besides, we were successfully shared with over 5500 unique accounts across various social media platforms with youth engagement discussion. We even secured commitments in support of tobacco control in West and Central Java, where prospective regional leaders pledged to prioritize pro-tobacco control policies.
CONCLUSIONS: Systematic mapping of political stances on TC is a vital tool for advocacy in Indonesia. By identifying supporters and opponents within the government, tobacco control advocates can develop targeted strategies to prioritize public health over TI interests. This approach enhances the TC network’s ability to influence policy changes with youth leading the way on political commitment.