City Council opposes governor's plan to legalize gambling
City Council opposes governor's plan to legalize gambling
JAKARTA (JP): City council has insisted gambling is illegal
and suggested that Governor Sutiyoso seek President Abdurrahman
Wahid's approval if he continues with a plan to centralize
gambling activities on Panjang Island.
"It's up to Governor Sutiyoso if he wants to violate the law
and regulations. City council does not have the authority to
endorse his proposal," council speaker Edy Waluyo told reporters
at city council on Monday.
He said Sutiyoso should secure the central government's
approval instead of asking the council's approval to set up a
centralized arena for gambling.
Edy said some councilors' support for centralized gambling
activities should be observed as their own personal opinion.
"It's not the city council's opinion," he said.
Sutiyoso said on Friday that he would seek council's approval
to establish centralized gambling on Panjang Island in Pulau
Seribu (Thousand Islands) if the city council agreed to legalize
gambling activities.
"I personally agree with the centralization of gambling. But
it's the city council who has to decide," he told reporters after
a visit to an oil exploration site on Pabelokan Island in Pulau
Seribu.
"If it is endorsed by council, Panjang Island could be used as
a gambling site because it's still vacant."
Sutiyoso's statement was made in response to a statement by
former governor Ali Sadikin, who suggested on Wednesday the
legalization and centralization of gambling.
"The centralization of gambling could contribute to city
revenue," Sadikin, also known as Bang Ali, said.
Sutiyoso said he would conduct raids to eradicate illegal
gambling activities in Jakarta if the centralization of gambling
won the council's approval.
"I admit that the administration's current move to eradicate
gambling here is not really effective," he said.
Spokesman for the city administration, Muhayat, said on Friday
that the administration had built a runway on the 16-hectare
Panjang Island.
"The runway can be used by small airplanes," Muhayat said
without giving details when the runway was built.
He dismissed speculation that the runway was built to
anticipate the city allowing a gambling den on the island, saying
that it was used for tourism for nearby islands.
Many people have said that several islands in Pulau Seribu
have recently organized gambling activities.
The city administration closed last month 16 entertainment
centers in North Jakarta, West Jakarta and Central Jakarta, which
reportedly provided rooms as gambling dens.
The public, especially Muslim ulemas, are also concerned with
the increase of togel (illegal lotteries), which have attracted
mostly low-income earners. (jun)