The governor and gambling<\/p>\n
With his mood of confidence, Jakarta City Governor Sutiyoso
\nsaid last week that his administration was ready to build the
\ninfrastructure for casinos in the Seribu Islands, north of
\nJakarta. Without taking into consideration the strong reactions
\namong the Muslim community the governor said he was sure that the
\nplan would run smoothly. So, he said he was ready to build the
\ninfrastructure.<\/p>\n
He added that the only party he should consult with would be
\nthe Muslim scholars or ulemas and the City Council for
\nrecommendations. Apparently based on his personal experience in
\ndealing easily with the City Council, Sutiyoso added that he was
\npretty sure that councillors would give their support to the
\nidea, and that the \"ulemas would not make any objection.\"<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso acknowledged that gambling could not be banned
\ncompletely. Therefore, it would be better to open a legal
\ngambling center.<\/p>\n
He referred to Malaysia, a country with a majority Muslim
\npopulation, which had localized gambling because it had been
\nunable to eradicate it.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Ulemas' Council (MUI), however, earlier
\nrejected the idea of opening a casino here. It is a public
\nknowledge that the Koran, the Muslim Holy Scripture, is against
\ngambling.<\/p>\n
All Islamic-based parties, the United Development Party (PPP),
\nthe Crescent and Star Party (PBB), the National Mandate Party
\n(PAN) and the Justice Party (PK) have rejected the proposal to
\nset up the center.<\/p>\n
PPP's city chapter chairman Djafar Badjeber said that his
\nparty would reject any proposal to legalize gambling centers in
\nthe city.<\/p>\n
\"It's an evil project. PPP's city chapter would reject the
\nproposal,\" Djafar, who is also the council's deputy chairman,
\ntold reporters.<\/p>\n
Besides violating God's law, he said gambling was still
\nforbidden according to the current laws and regulations here.<\/p>\n
Djafar, who is serving a second term as councillor, denied
\nthat the council once recommended to the administration that it
\nallow gambling.<\/p>\n
\"As far as I know there was no such recommendation in the
\npast,\" he said.<\/p>\n
An article in the criminal code states that gambling is not
\nallowed without a permit. But a 1987 presidential decree banned
\ngambling activities all over the country.<\/p>\n
Gambling is a very complex problem because for the Indonesian
\ncitizens of Chinese origin gambling is part of their tradition.<\/p>\n
Police in the past have abused the legal reality by raiding
\ngambling dens but have failed to charge anyone with having
\ncommitted a crime. Like prostitution, many people, official or
\nunofficial, have imposed illegal levies on this petty crime for
\npersonal benefits.<\/p>\n
Malaysia has solved the problem once and for all by
\nlegalizing the gambling and put it up high on the mountain of
\nGenting Highland. Malaysian citizens of Malay origin and Muslims
\nare barred from entering the casino. And the supremacy of law has
\nbeen the pride of our neighboring country since its birth in
\n1957.<\/p>\n
Everybody perhaps laughed heartily when Sutiyoso mentioned
\nMalaysia as the comparison in this case because everyone knows
\nthat supervision is the weakest point of Indonesian bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
What Indonesians should do next is watch the tug-of-war
\nbetween Sutiyoso and the Muslims.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-governor-and-gambling-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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