Karaoke lounge opens despite ban

TANGERANG: Owners of Hotel Istana Nelayan in Tangerang have ignored the municipal administration's direction not to operate karaoke lounges without possessing the required permits.

A staff member at the hotel on Jl. Gatot Subroto said on Monday that in order to deceive administration officials and public order officers, the hotel management had changed operation times of the karaoke lounge from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The lounge, which has not obtained operation permits from the administration, was closed on Aug. 29 after police busted a staff member and several other people in the middle of a drug transaction.

Municipal tourism office head Iryani, vowing not to be tricked by the cunning ruse, promised they would take stern measures against the hotel management soon.

Meanwhile, Chief of the Tangerang municipal public order agency Edwan Firmansyah admitted that he had heard about the illegal reopening of the karaoke lounge and promised to investigate.--JP