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.