PKS promises not to take hard-line on nightspots

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Known for its Islamic outlook, the emergence of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) as a major faction in the Jakarta City Council has raised concerns for businessmen who own entertainment spots, who worry that the councillors will take an narrow view on nightspots.

This fear, however, was dismissed by council PKS faction chairman Gunawan on Thursday since a hard-line policy would spark unrest in society. He added that a repressive approach would be counterproductive if the public was not ready to accept it.

"We will not force the society to follow certain values if they are not ready. We prefer to use a persuasive approach through a long process of education. We know it takes time," he told The Jakarta Post.

He stressed that the PKS did not agree to the use of violence in regulating nightspots -- such as night clubs, karaoke bars, massage centers and discotheques -- which for strict Muslims are not in line with Islamic teachings.

Entertainment spots have contributed on average around Rp 34 billion (US$3.72 million) monthly in entertainment tax to city revenue, according to secretary-general of the Indonesian Entertainment Business Association (Aspehindo) Adrian Maelite.

There are around 1,300 companies running various night entertainment centers in the city, which employ around 240,000 workers.

PKS faction secretary Salamat Nurdin added there were also other social problems such as prostitutions and gambling, which ran counter to Islamic values.

But, he said, PKS also saw things realistically. "We must be realistic. We can't stop such practices by just issuing a bylaw. It will be a lengthy task through educating the public and we are ready for that."

PKS' campaign against corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) had boosted its popularity in the April 5 legislative election. Its seats on the City Council jumped significantly from only four in the 1999-2004 term to 18 in the 2004-2008 term -- the largest number of seats of any party in the 75-member council.

Gunawan emphasized that his party's priority in the city was to push the city administration to double its budget for poverty elimination programs since poverty was the most serious social problem.

"We believe that poverty is the source of all social problems. Therefore, we must give a larger allocation for the poverty alleviation program in the 2005 budget," he said, adding that his party was ready to continue its anticorruption campaign to ensure that all budgets reach the intended target.

Gunawan also promised that the 18 PKS councillors were ready to cooperate with the administration to fight against KKN by empowering the City Audit Agency (Bawasda).

But, he said PKS would also be ready to become an opposition force if the administration did not have the political will to fight KKN. "I believe with 18 councillors, PKS will be in a strong position to promote the anticorruption campaign."

Gunawan realizes that his faction must collaborate with other factions in the council to carry out the anticorruption campaign. But choosing the right allies will be difficult.

He pointed to the PKS' failure to win the council speakership as a good lesson. "For the time being, we are sure that 30 councillors are on our side. We must intensify lobbying with other councillors to reach our goal."