Ulemas soften stance on nightspots
Ulemas soften stance on nightspots
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The city chapter of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI)
softened its stance on Monday by agreeing that certain
entertainment centers here had the right to operate during the
fasting month of Ramadhan.
"Actually, we want all the entertainment centers to close
during the fasting month. But we have to consider their workers,"
MUI city chapter secretary Abubakar Muin said during a hearing
with the City Council and the Association of Nightspot Owners
(Asphindo).
The hearing was organized to discuss the draft of a bylaw on
the operation of entertainment centers during Ramadhan.
Abubakar said MUI supported the governor's decision to ban
certain entertainment centers commonly associated with
prostitution and gambling, during the fasting month.
In past years, MUI has insisted that all entertainment centers
close during the fasting month.
Besides MUI, the militant Islam Defenders Front (FPI) has
vandalized entertainment centers that remained open during
Ramadhan in past years.
FPI insisted the entertainment centers' owners could allocate
some of their profits during 11 months of operation to pay their
employees during their closure in the fasting month.
It's unclear whether MUI's backing down was related to the
tougher stance of the government toward militant groups after the
Bali bombing tragedy.
Nine members of FPI, including its chairman Rizieq Shihab were
detained for vandalizing entertainment centers in West Jakarta
three weeks ago.
Asphindo's secretary Adrian Maelite urged that bars should
also be allowed to open during the fasting month.
"How can karaoke parlors open without bars (serving alcohol)?"
Adrian told reporters.
The city's entertainment centers collectively employ a total
of 250,000 workers, and together with hotels and restaurants
contribute total taxes of between Rp 30 billion and Rp 40 billion
a month.
The city administration earlier announced that certain
entertainment centers, including bars, discotheques, massage
parlors and pin ball arcades, were not allowed to operate during
the fasting month.
Other entertainment centers, such as karaoke parlors and live
music halls, are allowed to operate between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30
p.m.
However all entertainment centers located at star-rated hotels
are allowed to operate during the Ramadhan.
The city has some 2,887 entertainment centers, including 251
cinemas, 200 billiard halls, 1,228 bars and restaurants, 144
discotheques, 193 hotels, 12 nightclubs, 35 cafes, 11 saunas, 263
karaoke parlors, 221 massage parlors, 20 barber shops (that are
known to employ sex workers) and 20 amusement centers.