Councillors want nightspots closed during Ramadhan

JAKARTA (JP): Councillors from Muslim-based parties countered on Tuesday Governor Sutiyoso's recent decision to allow nightspots to remain open during the holy month of Ramadhan.

Contacted separately by The Jakarta Post, Zayadi Musa of the United Development Party (PPP), Tjuk Sudono of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Mukhayar R.M. of the Justice Party (PK) demanded that the governor reconsider the policy, saying it would only create an unfavorable situation for Muslims while performing their religious commitments.

"The opening of the nightspots will only disturb Muslims' solemnity in performing their Ramadhan prayers," Zayadi asserted.

During Ramadhan, Muslims will refrain from eating and drinking and from indulging in worldly acts, such as sexual intercourse, from dawn to dusk.

Muslims also say evening prayers, locally called tarawih, after the breaking of the fast meals. The prayers usually begin at 7 p.m..

Tjuk's words were even stronger, urging the governor not only to close down the nightspots during the holy month but to close them for good.

"A temporary closure is not enough because people will assume that immoral activities are allowed in the periods other than Ramadhan," he said.

Nightspots such as discotheques, massage parlors, bars and other such places are often suspected of hosting drug trafficking activities and sex orgies.

Zayadi also demanded that the governor order the nightspot operators to assure the welfare of their employees during the closure period.

"The employees should be paid during the closure time. They have worked for 11 months and the operators shouldn't be reluctant to give them a month off," he said.

Based on a city bylaw passed last year, Sutiyoso announced last week that nightspots could open after tarawih prayer and close before the pre-dawn meal (sahur).

The councilors would not unveil any plan or moves against the governor's decision to impose the city bylaw but warned that the public would respond negatively to the policy.

"A series of attacks on nightspots committed by the Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI), for example, were expressions of the public's dissatisfaction with the city administration's controversial policy," said Mukhayar.

Following a huge rally staged by the FPI, all nightspots were closed during the holy month of Ramadhan until seven days after the post-fasting Idul Fitri celebration last year.(07/asa)