Nightspot operators admit breaching fire regulations

Nightspot operators admit breaching fire regulations

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Many entertainment center operators here were neglecting the fire
safety regulations, which could lead to fatal disasters, an
executive of the Association for Nightspot Owners (Aspehindo),
said on Thursday.

"The main reason is simply that they are unaware of the
potential danger from the lack of fire safety. Besides, the city
administration's control over the businesses is pretty weak,"
said Adrian Maelite, the association's secretary general.

Recalling the lamentable fire at the Heppi karaoke lounge in
Palembang, South Sumatra, which claimed 52 fatalities, Adrian
called on the business operators to improve their fire prevention
systems.

"We come to understand that such negligence could lead to
fatalities both for the employees and visitors," he said.

The manager of Heppi karaoke, Djaliuddin, 43 alias Akun was
arrested by police on Tuesday here and sent on Thursday to
Palembang for further questioning.

Adrian added that those who neglected the fire safety systems
were usually small and medium size entertainment centers located
in shophouses or multi-story buildings, but not the bigger ones.

He also called on the city administration to strongly campaign
for the improvement of fire safety regulations.

"If necessary, the administration should impose tough
penalties on those who fail to comply with standard fire safety,"
he said.

According the city's Tourism Office, currently there are 1,271
entertainment centers operating in Jakarta, including massage
parlors, billiard halls and karaoke lounges.

An official of the office revealed that the figure stood at
1,400 two years ago, but many were closed amid enduring economic
hardship.

The control over entertainment spots here is supposed to be
handled three different city agencies. The building permit is
issued by the Building Control Agency, which is also authorized
to physically check the building once every five years. The Fire
Agency is to annually check the fire safety in the building once
a year, while the Tourism Agency, which issues the business
permit, is supposed to check the validity of all necessary papers
yearly.

Head of the City Fire Agency Johnny Pangaribuan admitted that
his agency could not control the fire safety systems at
entertainment centers because it was focused on high-rise
buildings.

"About 60 percent of entertainment centers in Jakarta do not
have adequate life saving equipment and fire protection systems,"
he said.

According to City Bylaw No. 3/1992 on fire prevention, every
building must have, among other items, exit doors and windows
leading directly to open spaces as life saving systems. In
addition, each should also have portable extinguishers,
sprinklers and hydrants in accordance with fire regulations.

Johnny added that his office failed to deter the entertainment
operators from breaking the requirements as the existing bylaw
only provided light sanctions against transgressors -- a maximum
of Rp 5 million in fines.

In response to the incident in Palembang, Johnny said that his
office would begin physical checkups of entertainment centers
starting next week.

"If we find that they have yet to comply with the standard
requirements in safety, we will warn them and give them a time
limit to improve," Johnny said.

The time frames would range from one month one year. "It
depends on the level of a building's risk of fire," he said.

Johnny added that his office would come down harder on
delinquent businesspeople.