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)