PP complains to govt over night-life hours
PP complains to govt over night-life hours
JAKARTA (JP): More than 50 members of the Pemuda Pancasila youth organization filed a complaint with the city council yesterday over the city administration's alleged failure to enforce Ramadhan hours at local bars, restaurants, nightclubs and discotheques.
The organization complained that numerous establishments have violated the city's special operating hours from 7 p.m. until 1 a.m. until Idul Fitri is celebrated this Feb. 20-21.
The spokesman for the group, Inggar Joshua, told members of the council's commission A for government affairs that the city administration needs to crack down on violators.
"The city public order office has yet to take firm action," Inggar said.
Inggar said that some of the places are even forcing its employees to work until dawn. He also said several of the centers are being used as sites for illegal drug transactions.
The city council should urge the administration to intensify its supervision, he said.
The chairman of the commission, M. Amman, nodded in agreement, asking the organization to help the city administration collect facts on those staying open past 1 a.m.
However, the deputy chairman of the commission, Fatommy Asaari, pointed out that the city public order office lacks the funds necessary to supervise the city's 3,051 establishments.
"This is because the city administration does not provide enough funding for the office's programs," Fatommy said.
Toha Reno, head of the city's entertainment department, said the office is facing other difficulties as well.
Many of these places are backed by "powerful people", whom most city officials are too afraid to cross.
"My subordinates were almost killed when we tried to close down a restaurant in West Jakarta," he said, adding that his office only has 669 people on staff.
Reluctant
Toha added that his office is reluctant to discipline the establishments, which contribute significantly to the city revenue office and employ thousands of workers.
However, Toha said his office is determined to take a suitable course of action.
"Closing them down is a last resort and not the only way to make them obey," he said, adding that he suspected other motives behind the complaint lodged by the Pemuda Pancasila organization.
He said the city has already closed down the Atrium food court near Pasar Senin, Indiana bar and restaurant in Kemang and Parkit, a discotheque on Jl. Wahid Hasyim, Central Jakarta.
The executive chairman of the organization, Yories Raweyai, said last week that the city administration should remind the establishments of the special Ramadhan hours.
Yories, who is also the chairman of the Association of Entertainment and Tourism Businessmen in Jakarta, said many bars, nightclubs, discotheques and massage parlors in the city stay open until 10 a.m.
Yories named the Zodiac, Atlanta, Terminal One and Hailai as also having violated Ramadhan hours. (yns)