Jokowi Urged Not to Include Smokers in His Cabinet

Jakarta (Antara) - A health expert from Jakarta's Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital has urged President Joko Widodo to desist from choosing candidates who are smokers in his future cabinet. "I appealed to President Joko Widodo to not choose a candidate who smokes because smoking is a health risk factor," Dr Ari Syam noted here on Friday. He pointed out that smoking significantly contributes to causing various diseases such as heart condition and stroke. "The president had better not choose a candidate who smokes. Besides that, an uninformed cigarette smoker also exposes others to various diseases that could threaten their lives," he remarked. Ari proposed that candidates should undergo medical tests to safeguard their health condition. He also advised female candidates to undergo tests for various forms of cancer, including breast and cervical cancers. He hoped that by undergoing health tests, the future medical costs that the country would have to bear for its officials could be reduced. President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla were inaugurated on Monday. The two are currently still selecting candidates to fill ministerial posts in their future cabinet. (*)