Sex trade flourishes, but no gambling wanted in Batam

Sex trade flourishes, but no gambling wanted in Batam

Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam, Riau

Police were considering summoning Batam Mayor Nyat Kadir, who has
come under mounting fire for his decision to legalize gambling in
a restricted area of the industrial island, which forms part of
Riau province.

Critics accused the mayor of corruption and collusion in his
last year's move to legalize the gambling in the coastal resort
of Tering Bay in Nongsa subdistrict.

Complaints to the police were lodged by the Batam branch of
the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI), the local legislative
council and an anticorruption watchdog, all of whom urged the
Barelang District Police to investigate the case.

"I was one of those who visited the gambling complex in
Malaysia's Genting Highlands. But when the Batam administration
decided to legalize gambling, it failed to first consult with the
MUI. We continue to oppose it," local MUI chairman Azhari Abbas
said on Wednesday.

"The policy would taint the image of Batam, which is well-
known to be a civilized city," he added, while failing to refer
to the flourishing sex trade on the island.

Joining the opposition was Batam legislative council speaker
Taba Iskandar, who said that although the legislature wanted to
increase revenue from the local tourist sector, it did not mean
that "we approve the legalization of gambling".

Batam Independent Anticorruption Organization (Bakin) chief
Samsul Paloh urged the mayor to reverse his decision as it was
unlawful.

"The mayor should be taken to court to account for his policy
of allowing gambling in Batam," he added.

On Tuesday, Bakin presented a complaint against Nyat Kadir to
the Barelang police, charging him with collusion in the process
of legalizing gambling.

Through its lawyers, Iskandar Sonhadji and Sutan Judin Siregar
from the Jakarta-based firm of Widjojanto, Sonhaji & Associates,
Bakin also named Chandra Wijaya, director of PT Dewa Menara
Wisata, in the complaint.

The company obtained a license from the mayor to manage
legalized gambling in the so-called Exclusive Integrated Tourist
Resort (KWTE) in Tering Bay.

In response, Barelang Police chief Sr. Comr. Suhartono said
his men were scrutinizing the report and promised to follow up on
it soon should there be sufficient evidence against Nyak Kadir
and the other persons involved.

"We are still studying the complaint. We will take further
action if there is convincing evidence that the mayor is involved
in a crime," he told The Jakarta Post.

The KWTE was opened in April last year with the approval of
the Batam administration based upon City Regulation No.
637/UMP/VIII/2002, which was signed by Nyak Kadir.

The head of the Batam tourism office, Buralimar, then arranged
a commercial deal with PT Dewa Menara Wisata to manage the KWTE,
including gambling, in Tering Bay for three years. The contract
is extendible.

The legalization of gambling is aimed at generating more
revenue from the tourism sector in Batam, which is also famous
for its freewheeling sex trade.

Meanwhile, Batam administration spokesman Hartoyo Sirkoen said
the city's mayor was ready to face any legal challenges to his
gambling policy. He did not elaborate.