Governor wants limit on nighspot opening hours
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)