Tourism body offers islands for gambling<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Thousand Islands Marine Tourism Association
\nhas offered two islands as possible sites for localized gambling
\nactivities, the association's chief said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Djafar Tirtosentono said the offer for Thousand Islands, a
\nchain north of Jakarta in the Java Sea, was a response to
\nGovernor Sutiyoso's recent remarks.<\/p>\n
Answering reporters' questions on New Year's Eve about rampant
\ngambling dens operating illegally in the capital, Sutiyoso said
\nhis administration was considering the possibility of \"isolating\"
\nthem like in the Genting Highlands in Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\"We informed officials of the city administration about the
\noffer in a meeting at the city tourism agency last week. An
\nofficial proposal will be submitted to the governor, probably
\nafter the Idul Fitri celebration,\" Djafar said.<\/p>\n
He expected the offer might be accepted forthwith to allow
\ngambling operations to commence after the June 7 general
\nelection.<\/p>\n
City councilors and religious leaders have ardently opposed
\nofficial sanctioning of gambling. Djafar argued that in a time
\nwhen the city was finding it difficult to gain revenue, \"we
\nshould search for innovations to increase the city revenue then\".<\/p>\n
He compared the situation with neighboring Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\"I will also hold talks with religious leaders, possibly after
\nthe Idul Fitri celebration, to discuss the matter. They should be
\ninformed that in a country like Malaysia, where Islam plays a
\ngreater role than here, localized gambling is permitted.\"<\/p>\n
In his Dec. 31 comments, Sutiyoso complained that city public
\norder officials found it \"very difficult\" to eradicate gambling
\ndens.<\/p>\n
City Council Speaker Edy Waluyo said several city councilors
\nhad recently met with Muslim and non-Muslim leaders to discuss
\nthe matter.<\/p>\n
\"The council has suggested that the city administration send
\nselected preachers to Malaysia after the Idul Fitri holiday to
\ntalk with their Malaysian counterparts about the issue of
\ngambling, among other things,\" Edy said.<\/p>\n
Several days after Sutiyoso's comments, city councilors
\nroundly denounced the proposal, saying the governor seemed to be
\nunaware gambling is illegal in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A source said on Monday some of the councilors visited
\nMalaysia last week.<\/p>\n
Djafar named the two islands as 7.8-hectare Putri Barat and
\n7.7-hectare Bintang. They were judged the best sites because they
\nare located in the center of the chain, about a two-hour boat
\nride from the North Jakarta coast.<\/p>\n
A new air strip at nearby Panjang island will also be in
\noperation soon, he added.<\/p>\n
Strict criteria will be recommended to screen prospective
\ngamblers.<\/p>\n
\"The place, for example, will specially be designed for
\nforeigners holding official passports or Indonesians who are able
\nto put down a Rp 100 million deposit.\"<\/p>\n
Djafar stressed the guidelines were tentative and \"the
\nadministration can still revise them\".<\/p>\n
He believed gambling locations would have a beneficial effect
\non other aspects of tourism, like increasing the hotel occupancy
\nrate, currently averaging 10 percent.<\/p>\n
Localized gambling locations is preferable, he said, to
\nunchecked dens across the capital. It would also stop capital
\nflight from Indonesians gambling overseas.<\/p>\n
\"That's why we suggest the gambling tax is set at 50 percent
\nfrom total winnings,\" Djafar said. (ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tourism-body-offers-islands-for-gambling-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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