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Muslim body launches own cigarette brand
Indonesia's largest Muslim organisation, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), has come up with its own brand of kretek cigarettes in an attempt to cash in on the industry's good business. The Tali Jagat ('rope of the universe') kretek hit the market last week after it was launched in the town of Pasuruan, East Java."Mmmm... Blow some my way, Yusuf!" Guests at the launch, mostly local NU members, thought the cigarettes were 'quite mild and tasted good', according to reports. "Like a kretek cigarette should..." The cigarettes, priced at 3,500 rupiah (68 Singapore cents) per pack of 12, are cheaper than some of the well-known brands. They will be sold mainly to the group's 40 million followers, most of whom live in East Java, NU officials said. Also known as "Tali Jagat Country"... Marketing promotions will be done at Quran reading gatherings in mosques around the province, where worshippers can sample the cigarettes for free. "Take a puff — it's mosque time!" Sirkah Muawwanah cooperative manager Said Affandi said: 'We want our members to buy our own products - after all the profits will eventually go to their own pockets.' "And if they kick off from smoking the things, we've made a special deal with Paradise that they can have 48 — that's right! 48! — doe-eyed virgins for all eternity!" Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-01-12 |
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