Island offered to be used for gambling

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The ongoing controversy surrounding proposals to establish an official gambling facility here has taken a new twist, with Kepulauan Seribu (Thousand Islands) Regent Abdul Kadir suggesting that one of the islands in the regency could be used for the purpose.

Kadir has proposed that the facility be established on Edam island, also known as Damar island, which can be reached in about 20 minutes by speed boat from North Jakarta.

"The island is still empty. There is only a light tower on it," the regent told reporters on Wednesday at the City Hall after reporting on current developments in the new regency to Governor Sutiyoso.

The governor had earlier revealed his plan to set up an official gambling site here amid mushrooming gambling activities in the city, saying that such an initiative could contribute to the city's revenue.

The administration has cooperated with the Social Structural Institute of the University of Indonesia to conduct a survey on the possibility of opening a gambling center here.

Sutiyoso's idea received mixed reactions from city councillors.

City council chairman Edy Waluyo supported it but other councillors, mainly from Islamic-based political parties, rejected the proposal.

Councillor Lambertus Gaina Dara of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle gave the idea his backing, saying it would boost the city's revenue, and recognized the reality of gambling's popularity.

"I personally agree with the idea. Even though all religions forbid gambling, it can never be completely eradicated," Lambertus of the council's commission E for social welfare affairs said.

Jakarta once legalized gambling activities, during the administration of former Governor Ali Sadikin in the 1970s. But gambling was later banned throughout the country following a presidential decree.

Despite its name, the Thousand Islands group only consists of 106 islands. Forty-five of them are privately managed for use as tourist resorts.

Only nine of the 45 islands are used as resorts while the remaining 36 are used for private purposes.

Abdul Kadir also said the regency planned to call upon the owners to open the islands as resorts.

Among those with rights to manage the islands are publisher Surya Paloh, banker Tommy Winata, former President Soeharto's son, Bambang Trihatmodjo, Soeharto's half brother, and Probosutedjo, as well as the families of businessman Hasyim Ning and former vice president Adam Malik.