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.