City to enforce Ramadhan curfew
City to enforce Ramadhan curfew
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has promised to take stern action against amusement centers violating regulations, especially those concerning closing hours during the fasting month.
The deputy governor for administrative affairs, Idroes said yesterday that he had instructed subordinates to punish the owners of bars, discotheques, night clubs and other entertainment centers who broke the regulations. "Regulations must be enforced properly. No matter who backs them up," he stressed.
Members of the youth organization Pemuda Pancasila have visited the City Council reporting that several amusement centers have failed to abide by the closing-hour regulation for Ramadhan set by the authorities.
The organization said that many bars, nightclubs, discotheques and massage parlors in the city stay open until 10 a.m. and it accused the Zodiac, Atlanta, Terminal One and Hailai as allegedly being among the worst offenders.
It said that some of the places are even forcing employees to work until dawn and several of the centers are being used as sites for illegal drug transactions.
"We could not punish them as they are backed by relatives of high ranking officials," Toha Reno, an official of the city public order office said on Monday.
Toha, who heads the city's entertainment department, said many of these places are backed by "powerful people", whom most city officials are too afraid of to investigate.
According to the regulations, night clubs, discotheques and karaoke halls have to close by 2 a.m., while fitness centers and massage parlors must close at 11 p.m. Live music performances, cultural events, bars, pubs and coffee shops can remain open until midnight.
On a related development, Deputy Governor for People's Welfare R.S. Museno denied allegations that the city administration had been too weak to take action against violators.
"We have closed down three amusement centers for violating the regulations," he said, citing the closure of the Atrium food court Pasar Senen, Indiana bar and restaurant in Kemang and Parkit, a discotheque on Jl. Wahid Hasyim, Central Jakarta.
When asked about "powerful people" behind the amusement centers, Museno said no one would receive special treatment if caught infringing the regulations. (yns)