Tourism body offers islands for gambling

Tourism body offers islands for gambling

JAKARTA (JP): The Thousand Islands Marine Tourism Association
has offered two islands as possible sites for localized gambling
activities, the association's chief said on Tuesday.

Djafar Tirtosentono said the offer for Thousand Islands, a
chain north of Jakarta in the Java Sea, was a response to
Governor Sutiyoso's recent remarks.

Answering reporters' questions on New Year's Eve about rampant
gambling dens operating illegally in the capital, Sutiyoso said
his administration was considering the possibility of "isolating"
them like in the Genting Highlands in Malaysia.

"We informed officials of the city administration about the
offer in a meeting at the city tourism agency last week. An
official proposal will be submitted to the governor, probably
after the Idul Fitri celebration," Djafar said.

He expected the offer might be accepted forthwith to allow
gambling operations to commence after the June 7 general
election.

City councilors and religious leaders have ardently opposed
official sanctioning of gambling. Djafar argued that in a time
when the city was finding it difficult to gain revenue, "we
should search for innovations to increase the city revenue then".

He compared the situation with neighboring Malaysia.

"I will also hold talks with religious leaders, possibly after
the Idul Fitri celebration, to discuss the matter. They should be
informed that in a country like Malaysia, where Islam plays a
greater role than here, localized gambling is permitted."

In his Dec. 31 comments, Sutiyoso complained that city public
order officials found it "very difficult" to eradicate gambling
dens.

City Council Speaker Edy Waluyo said several city councilors
had recently met with Muslim and non-Muslim leaders to discuss
the matter.

"The council has suggested that the city administration send
selected preachers to Malaysia after the Idul Fitri holiday to
talk with their Malaysian counterparts about the issue of
gambling, among other things," Edy said.

Several days after Sutiyoso's comments, city councilors
roundly denounced the proposal, saying the governor seemed to be
unaware gambling is illegal in Indonesia.

A source said on Monday some of the councilors visited
Malaysia last week.

Djafar named the two islands as 7.8-hectare Putri Barat and
7.7-hectare Bintang. They were judged the best sites because they
are located in the center of the chain, about a two-hour boat
ride from the North Jakarta coast.

A new air strip at nearby Panjang island will also be in
operation soon, he added.

Strict criteria will be recommended to screen prospective
gamblers.

"The place, for example, will specially be designed for
foreigners holding official passports or Indonesians who are able
to put down a Rp 100 million deposit."

Djafar stressed the guidelines were tentative and "the
administration can still revise them".

He believed gambling locations would have a beneficial effect
on other aspects of tourism, like increasing the hotel occupancy
rate, currently averaging 10 percent.

Localized gambling locations is preferable, he said, to
unchecked dens across the capital. It would also stop capital
flight from Indonesians gambling overseas.

"That's why we suggest the gambling tax is set at 50 percent
from total winnings," Djafar said. (ind)