'I have to go along with the regulation'

The Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan will begin in early November, and in order to protect the sanctity of the holy month the city administration will issue a regulation requiring entertainment centers and nightspots to either close down or to reduce their operating hours. A number of people whose earnings depend on these nightspots shared their views with The Jakarta Post.

Firman, 25, a room attendant at a massage parlor in Mayestik, South Jakarta. He lives in Cileungsi, Bogor, West Java:

I have to agree with the regulation closing massage parlors. Otherwise, I might lose my job here. I guess closing down the parlor is better than allowing it to be attacked by hard-line groups. If that happened and they destroyed the parlor then I would be unemployed for good.

I'll just look at the positive side, because during the closure I will have a month's holiday. Usually, employees only get two days off a month.

But on the other hand, I won't have any income for a month. I might get an Idul Fitri allowance but surely it will be less than my monthly salary.

So during the fasting holiday perhaps I will try to get a part-time job to extra money for the Idul Fitri celebration.

Rosid, a vendor who sells beverages and cigarettes outside a massage parlor in South Jakarta. He lives alone in Sentral, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta:

Like it or not, I have to follow the rules issued by the city administration despite the fact that my income will drop by about 20 percent from normal days.

If I was making the regulations I wouldn't close entertainment spots and massage parlors because that harms people who already make little money.

I'm sure the city administration has formulated the regulation because of pressure from other parties. We know that.

I'm Muslim but that doesn't mean that as a Muslim I have to impose rules that everyone else must obey.

But it's OK. I'll keep my kiosk open to earn a living, even if I make less money because of these closures.

Ade, not his real name, 23, a parking attendant at a massage parlor and spa in South Jakarta. He lives in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, with his wife:

As a Muslim I can understand the regulation issued by the city administration to close down the entertainment spots.

Let's say it symbolizes respect for the fasting month. Besides, the closure will only last for one month.

I don't think it is a serious problem, even if my income drops for the month.

However, I just have to believe that God will provide me my daily needs. I can work as a parking attendant at the market around here.

And I usually get bonuses from many of the shop owners around here, so I don't think it will be too serious a problem.

Adhi, 25, a maintenance man at a massage parlor on Jl. Dharmawangsa, South Jakarta. He lives in Fatmawati, South Jakarta:

It's not a problem for me if the parlor closes down to honor the fasting month. At least I can have a month's holiday.

I think we have to obey the government regulation to avoid any unexpected incidents for occurring. I mean, some hard-line group would probably attack the place if we didn't obey the regulation.

Honestly, I don't worry too much about the temporary closure. I have prepared by saving a bit of money for the long holiday.

Perhaps, I will go to my hometown in East Java. I can work for my brother in a workshop to earn extra money, since my Idul Fitri bonus will not be enough to live on.

Ima, 26, the manger of a batik gallery in Bintaro, South Jakarta:

Closing and cutting the opening hours of nightspots is fine with me. We must reduce such activities during the holy month.

But the owners and employers must take care of their employees during the fasting month, because the employees still have to support themselves.

The order to close and limit nightspots has become routine for the city administration every year. So there is no reason for the owners to neglect their employees, because they have had 11 months to make up for the losses during the fasting month.

-- Leo Wahyudi S