Governor wants limit on nighspot opening hours

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja called on entertainment venues yesterday not to open the day before and the first day of Ramadhan.

He said most Jakartans were Moslem and others should respect those who are fasting.

Almost seven million, or 85 percent, of Jakarta's nine million people are Moslem.

Ramadhan starts next month but an official date has yet been set. It is expected to begin on Jan. 9 or Jan. 10.

Government officials and Moslem organizations determine when Ramadhan starts based on the Arabic lunar calendar.

Surjadi has issued guidelines for nightspot operating hours over the Ramadhan and Idul Fitri holidays.

During Ramadhan, night clubs, discotheques and karaoke bars can open from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m daily.

Fitness centers, sauna and massage parlors can open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., while live music shows, cultural events, bars, pubs and coffee shops can open from 8 p.m to midnight.

This times also apply on Saturdays and national holidays.

The guideline states pin ball establishments can open from 10 a.m. until midnight.

Shows at major hotels are exempt but hotel discos are not.

Entertainment establishments cannot open one day before Idul Fitri, during Idul Fitri and one day after.

Normally, nightclubs and discotheques open from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m., while sauna parlors are open from 9 a.m. to midnight, massage parlors from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and pin ball centers from 10 a.m. to midnight.

Punishment

"Establishments found violating the guidelines will be punished," Surjadi said.

He did not say what the penalty would be but it usually ranges from written warnings to closure.

The authorities would keep a close eye on venues to ensure there would be no pornographic shows, he said. "We will be strict on this" because such shows spoil the spirit of Ramadhan.

Last year, six establishments, including a discotheque and a massage parlor, were temporarily closed for violating operating hours during Ramadhan.

City Public Order Office records show there are 3,322 entertainment centers in Jakarta but not all are affected by the guidelines.

There are 1,042 in Central Jakarta, 802 in West Jakarta, 722 in East Jakarta, 431 in North Jakarta and 325 in South Jakarta.

There are 317 bars, 139 discotheques, 157 hotels, 10 night clubs, 97 karaoke halls, 10 sauna parlors, 226 massage parlors and 97 ball games centers affected by the guideline.

A city public order official said yesterday 313 permits had been issued to entertainment centers for New Year's Eve festivities.

Head of the Public Order Office entertainment department Toha Reno said the permits were for discotheques, bars and other nightspots.

Toha said the office would deploy 385 officials, some in uniform, to monitor festivities.

"Officials will focus on discotheques where drug dealings are likely to occur," he said.

Toha said some nightclubs might have stripteases. "We will not stop the show. We will take the dancer(s) into custody after the show and ask the entertainment centers to explain everything."

New Year's Eve celebration organizers have to pay Rp 50,000 (US$20.8) to apply for a permit.

The city has also limited ticket prices which range from Rp 75,000 to Rp 750,000.

Last year, the city got over Rp 1 billion from taxes on the celebrations. (ste/02)