'Nightspots should get a tax break'

'Nightspots should get a tax break'

In response to a city administration regulation to close
entertainment centers during the upcoming Muslim fasting month,
some people who rely on these businesses shared their concerns
with The Jakarta Post.

Wowik, 30, is an employee of a multinational company in
Central Jakarta. She resides in Mampang, South Jakarta:

I'm concerned about the people who rely on these entertainment
centers. I think it is too bad that this regulation should be
strictly enforced during the fasting month.

I wonder who wielded this great influence to make the city
administration enforce the regulation. I guess it only
materialized to meet the demands of a certain group.

Besides, we cannot deny the fact that there are many people
who need to relax by visiting these entertainment spots in the
city, right?

I often go to the cafes or pubs just for recreation and fun.
But, of course, it all depends on my mood, my finances and free
time.

I don't feel bothered by the closures. I just cannot imagine
how the workers will survive with a whole month off.

Sutando, 36, is a product manager of a private company on Jl.
Raden Saleh, Central Jakarta. He lives in Cinere, South Jakarta
with his two children and wife:

On the one hand, I respect the enactment of the city
administrative regulation for closing entertainment centers
during the fasting month.

But on the other, the government should have thought about the
workers who make a living from these jobs.

My opinion is that the city administration needs to give a tax
break to the entertainment business during the fasting month.
Instead, those taxes could go to their workers.

This arrangement might be a good idea to keep everyone happy,
including those in the city administration, the owners of the
establishments and their employees.

But the government should be fair in this case. I mean that
during the fasting month the government should be strict in
enforcing the closure of nightspots and preventing these
establishments from opening illegally with the help of certain
individuals, such as security guards.

One thing the policymaker should think of is that not all
entertainment centers are against religious principles.

I'm a Muslim but sometimes I go to entertainment spots for fun
and for business. But the closure is okay by me.

Arif Setiawan, 32, has been a parking attendant at a hotel and
discotheque in Menteng, Central Jakarta for four years. He lives
in Kayumanis, East Jakarta, with a daughter and wife.

I have to comply with the rules requiring the closure in the
fasting month. I'm just another person with a low income who
cannot do anything but go along with the order. Otherwise, I
would be considered disloyal to my employer.

One thing for sure is that my income will decline during the
holy month as I won't get many tips from guests.

Most of my income comes from guests' tips because our salaries
here are low.

I hope my wife will understand the situation during the
fasting month because I cannot get another job. I have asked her
to hold on to our savings from the previous months so that we can
survive over the month I will be off.

Hopefully, the Idul Fitri allowance this year will cover my
transportation and food expenses during the closure.

Edi Supriadi, 32, is a taxi driver who normally picks up
passengers from nightspots in the Greater Jakarta area. He lives
in Cilodong, Depok with his wife and two children:

I'm divided over the closure regulation during the fasting
month.

On the one hand, as a Muslim, I agree with it because it
respects religious rites.

But on the other, I disagree with it as it will reduce my flow
of income. I'm sure that my income will drop by about 40 percent
compared to normal working days.

Worse still, I have to pay about Rp 2 million a month on my
loan for my taxi.

I'm hoping that at least a couple of days before the fasting
month there will be a lot of people going shopping for the
holidays. Well, it would help support my family.

Perhaps, I can count on my wife's earnings from the garment
factory she works at and hopefully she will understand that.