Ali Sadikin throws gambling issue on Council's table<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin, who made his name legalizing
\ngambling in the city during his tenure from 1966
\nto 1977, proposed on Wednesday that the city administration
\nreintroduce gambling in the capital.<\/p>\n
\"I completely agree with suggestions to legalize gambling in
\nrestricted areas. Please, don't turn a blind eye to the facts
\n(that gambling is widespread) around us,\" Ali said in a special
\nmeeting with 75 city councillors.<\/p>\n
\"The administration could designate the Thousand Islands as a
\ngambling center, but it would need to take stern action against
\nillegal gambling outside that center,\" Ali said.<\/p>\n
He highlighted Jakarta's status as an international city,
\nwhich hosts foreigners who sometimes need \"a place, like a
\ncasino, nightclub or bar in which to spend their evening after
\nwork.\"<\/p>\n
He cited his success in legalizing gambling in Jakarta and the
\nhuge amount of money earned from the lotteries and casinos of the
\nday, which was used to finance development projects in the city,
\ndespite the opposition of religious leaders.<\/p>\n
\"I talked to those religious leaders, who harshly criticized
\nmy policy and called it forbidden and against religious law. I
\ntold them that they should have choppers to travel across the
\ncity since I have built the roads with funds taken from gambling.
\nAnd, eventually, they were speechless,\" he said jokingly.<\/p>\n
Ali was responsible for the legalization of gambling and
\nprovided several locations for gambling centers, but due to
\ncriticism from ulema and other religious leaders, the practice
\nwas later banned.<\/p>\n
According to the law, all forms of gambling are a crime. Those
\nwho break the law will be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years'
\nimprisonment or fined up to Rp 10 million.<\/p>\n
The Association of Indonesian Entertainment Centers
\n(Aspehindo) estimates that illegal gambling sees a massive
\nturnover of Rp 200 billion a day.<\/p>\n
Ali also said that he supported the move to legalize
\nprostitution to prevent the city's sex industry from growing.<\/p>\n
\"We have all witnessed that prostitution is more openly
\npracticed than before -- and in public places. We must stop the
\npractice and localize the industry,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I agree with the idea. We have to protect the community from
\nthe negative impacts of gambling -- which is widespread in the
\ncity -- through the designation of certain restricted areas,\"
\nAbdul Muthalib Shihab of the Democratic Party faction said.<\/p>\n
Inggard Joshua of the Golkar faction said the administration
\ncould use the profit made from gambling to finance projects in
\nthe capital.<\/p>\n
\"We could use the money from gambling to fund our war against
\ndrugs, for instance,\" Inggard said.<\/p>\n
However, Abdurrahman of the Prosperous Justice Party faction
\nrejected the idea.<\/p>\n
\"As a faction, we are consistent in rejecting the idea since
\nwe doubt that the administration is really serious about doing
\nits utmost to combat gambling practices. The administration must
\nshow its strong commitment to cracking down on gambling, then, we
\ncould later speak about gambling localization,\" Abdurrahman said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ali-sadikin-throws-gambling-issue-on-councils-table-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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