Presidential decree on liquor
Presidential decree on liquor
From Pelita
On Feb. 12, the new presidential liquor ruling, No. 3/1997, was made public in the media. The ruling stipulated that the sale of categories B and C spirits containing more than 5 percent alcohol, would be allowed in hotels, bars and certain places to be appointed by the respective regional administrations.
According to the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI), "certain places" meant duty free shops which are frequented by expatriates.
The presidential decree was regarded by Jakarta's Deputy Governor Idroes and Al-Irsyad General Chairman Geys Ammar, as similar in nature to the controversial regional ruling, which stirred up debate recently (Republika, Feb. 13).
The entire Moslem community objected to the regional ruling at the time. The ruling was thought to intensify the distribution of liquor and increase regional income. The Regional Income Office was made responsible for supervising the correct implementation of the regulation. Indeed, the office functions as a fund collector for the provinces.
The presidential ruling differs from the regional one. It stipulates that customs duty and liquor tax would come under supervision of the Finance Ministry, whereas the regional office was permitted to impose levies on liquor.
The sale of liquor in hotels, bars, restaurants and certain other places, is not going to reduce the distribution of liquor since consumers have easy access to places where they can freely hold drinking parties, or even drink in the privacy of their own homes. Moslem people are striving to establish a country free of alcohol like Brunei Darussalam, Saudi Arabia, and other Moslem countries. The danger of liquor is evident.
The problem of alcohol was once raised on a national level by MUI. At a seminar organized five years ago by MUI, Dr. Kartono Mohammad, then chairman of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), said it was time to introduce medicine not containing alcohol. Alcohol in medicine could be replaced with other chemicals that are permitted by Islam.
We hope that this problem would be settled by all parties in an effort to build a healthier society free from unhealthy food and drinks that could undermine the mind and spirit.
HA JAIS
Jakarta