PKS promises not to take hard-line on nightspots

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."