Deputy mayor acknowledges error

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Samarinda Deputy Mayor Achmad Amins said yesterday that he would publicly apologize for comments deemed slanderous by religious groups.

After meeting with representatives from the Greater Family of Christian Students (KBMK) here yesterday, Achmad said he accepted the objections of the group and was ready to apologize through various publications.

The group was there to officially complain about remarks made by the deputy mayor, who after chairing a meeting on a possible increase in gambling establishments and other "illicit" entertainment houses reportedly said "If karaoke houses and other amusement places begin operating again, then Moslems should not go there. We hope such establishments are reserved for non- Moslems alone".

The statement received an unfavorable response from community leaders who regretted the remark.

"We hope all parties can learn from the unfortunate incident," KBMK's Juanda Pangaribuan said yesterday as quoted by Antara.