Sutiyoso has an each-way bet

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Even though he publicly announced his support for the current campaign against gambling, Governor Sutiyoso expressed doubt on Tuesday that police would succeed in stamping out the practice in the country.

"We have repeatedly launched similar eradication measures in the past ... but gambling still continues. We need to evaluate policies," Sutiyoso stated publicly after a meeting with finalists of the city's 2005 beauty pageant competition, Abang None, at City Hall.

Sutiyoso, who was accompanied by City Council speaker Ade Surapriatna, said his administration as well as the council had lent their full support to the campaign launched by National Police Chief Gen. Sutanto to crack down on gambling in the country.

"But, we're all awaiting whether or not the National Police chief will really be consistent with his commitment," he said.

Sutanto has a track record of being stern on gambling. Last week, he set a one-week deadline for provincial police chiefs to eradicate gambling in their areas. Those chiefs who failed to comply with the order could face either dismissal or criminal charges.

Jakarta police claimed on Monday that they had managed to close down all gambling dens in the city despite widespread skepticism among the public over the claim.

Sutiyoso said that if the police failed to eradicate it, his administration and the council needed to seek alternative measures to cope with gambling in the capital.

"The council is now carrying out a series of surveys and studies in other countries," he said.

However, he was quick to deny suggestions that one of the alternative measures was to legalize gambling in the capital.

The idea to legalize gambling at designated areas was floated again early this year by former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin, who made his name by legalizing gambling in the city during his tenure from 1966 to 1977.

Despite opposition from religious leaders, Ali legalized gambling and the huge amount of city tax revenue gained was used to finance development projects in the city.

Ali highlighted Jakarta's status as an international city, which hosts foreigners who sometimes need "a place, like a casino, nightclub or bar in which to spend their evenings after work."

The Thousand Islands is one of the places repeatedly mentioned to become restricted gambling centers in the city. The Association of Indonesian Entertainment Centers (Aspehindo) estimates that illegal gambling has a massive turnover of Rp 200 billion a day.

Meanwhile, Ade Surapriatna revealed that the council was looking into the possibility of establishing an anti-gambling body to help contain gambling practices.

"The body will be assigned to help eradicate gambling in the city," he said.

According to the law, all forms of gambling are a crime. Those who break the law will be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years' imprisonment or fined up to Rp 10 million.