Hotel discos will stay open during Ramadhan

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The city reminded the management of entertainment centers in the capital on Tuesday to close their business during the holy month as a sign of respect to Muslims.

Jakarta Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo said that regular bars, nightclubs, discotheques, amusement centers and massage parlors had to remain closed one day before the holy month started on Oct. 4 until one day after it ended on Nov. 2.

"We have issued a bylaw on that issue and we will cooperate with police to monitor its implementation," Fauzi said at City Hall.

Bylaw No. 10/2004 on tourism, especially Article 30, states that nightclubs, discotheques, saunas, massage parlors, amusement centers and bars must be closed throughout the fasting month of Ramadhan.

Under the bylaw, karaoke bars, live music bars and billiard halls may operate during Ramadhan from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., except those sharing the same location with nightclubs, massage parlors, discotheques and amusement centers, which have to be closed.

Entertainment centers that are facilities provided by star- rated hotels can operate as usual throughout the holy month, except on seven days -- one day before and the first day of Ramadhan, the Nuzulul Quran (the 17th day of Ramadhan), and from one day before Idul Fitri until one day after.

Other places of entertainment will be open during the Ramadhan, including bowling alleys, golf courses, sports stadiums, ice skating rinks, movie theaters, parks, swimming pools and barbershops. Certain barbershops are often reported to be dens of ill repute, operating as fronts for prostitution.

Questioning the bylaw, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani on Tuesday called for the scrapping of the special treatment given to entertainment centers in star-rated hotels.

"That will only confuse the public and police," he said.

He proposed all entertainment centers in the city be closed down in the first three days of Ramadhan and three days before then end of the holy month.

Firman promised to take stern action against groups taking the law into their hands and attempting to violently force closures of entertainment centers.

The hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI) has regularly smashed up nightclubs and bars operating during the fasting month during the past five years.

Last year, FPI members raided several bars and nightclubs in Jakarta, Bekasi, Tangerang and Depok.

Meanwhile, the Association of the Indonesian Entertainment Center Owners (Aspehindo) secretary-general Adrian Maelite said that the managements of entertainment centers would abide by the regulations.

Adrian, however, urged the city administration to help seek alternative solutions for certain business because they employed many people, including waiters.

There are at least 1,235 registered entertainment centers employing some 50,000 people across the capital.