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)