Council team to visit Malaysia

JAKARTA (JP): A team of 11 city councilors will visit Malaysia in the middle of next month to study how the country handles gambling and drug problems, a member of the team said on Sunday.

" We will go to Malaysia for a comparative study (of the two issues) in the middle of December," councilor Ahmad Heryawan, who is also the chairman of the Justice Party's faction, said.

During the visit, he said, the team would visit the country's legalized gambling area in the Genting Highlands.

According to Heryawan, it is expected that the visit will provide valuable information, some of which could be implemented in Indonesia.

Malaysia, he said, is widely known for having successfully controlled gambling and drug problems.

Besides the successful localization of gambling to one area, the country also has succeeded in reducing the use and trafficking of drugs by implementing heavy sentences on offenders, Heryawan said.

"But all of the team members disagree with the suggestion to legally localize and gambling here," he insisted.

He said the idea had been aired by some city councilors, who argued that such a step would help stop the increasing incidences of illegal gambling here.

Heryawan said, besides being forbidden by religion, the localization of gambling would not automatically end gambling activities in the city.

"We will not legalize something considered wrong here," he said.

The trip will be fully financed by the city budget.

He denied a rumor which said that the councilors' trip has been arranged and funded by a businessman who is ambitious to establish a Genting Highland-style gambling enclave on Panjang Island in Kepulauan Seribu (Thousands Islands) off Jakarta.

"I won't go if it is financed by other people," Heryawan said.

There are also rumors that the trip had been hastily arranged following Governor Sutiyoso' remarks after a visit on Nov. 19 to Kepulauan Seribu.

"I personally agree with the idea of the localization of gambling," governor said at the time, suggesting that the 16- hector Panjang Island could be turned into an official gambling enclave.

Councilor Posman Siahaan of the Justice and Unity Party (PAP) supported Sutiyoso' idea, saying localization could add to the city's revenue.

"It's better to localize gambling rather than leaving gambling activities here uncontrolled," Posman, who is also an activist of the Pemuda Pancasila youth organization, said.

The idea was also supported by former governor Ali Sadikin for the same reason.

City Council Speaker Edy Waluyo, however, has suggested that Sutiyoso first seek approval from central government if he insists on continuing with the idea.

"It's up to Governor Sutiyoso if he wants to violate the law and regulations. The city council does not have the authority to endorse his proposal," Edy said, adding that gambling is still illegal in this country. (jun)