Minister wants gambling canceled

Minister wants gambling canceled

JAKARTA: Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno has told the Batam municipality in Riau province to revoke a gambling permit issued to Tering Bay Resort, Noah subdistrict.

Untung Raharjo, general secretary of the National Commission to Monitor Autonomy, said the minister told him the gambling permit was illegal and should be scrapped.

Hari would order Batam Mayor Nyat Kadir to withdraw the illegal permit, Untung said.

The minister's remark added weight to mounting pressure on the mayor to revoke the permit given to local company PT Dewa Menara Wisata, which is developing a casino at the resort.

In response, police have pledged to summon Nyat Kadir for questioning. --Antara