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.