Indonesian lawmakers give bikinis the all clear

The Jakarta Post   |  Fri, 10/17/2008 5:31 PM  |  National

After months of in-depth consultations Indonesian lawmakers have decided that bikinis are acceptable attire for beaches in the mainly Muslim country.

The move will bring a sigh of relief from Indonesia's lucrative tourism industry, which has expressed concern over a new anti-pornography bill being pushed by conservative Muslim parties.

"Tourists will be able to wear bikinis in special tourist areas, such as in Bali, so Indonesia's tourism industry won't be hurt by this legislation," Democrat Party lawmaker Husein Abdul Azis said as reported by state news agency Antara on Friday.

"We are listening to the protests of stakeholders and people at large," he added, referring to fears the tourism industry would suffer if bikinis were criminalized.

Indonesia has declared 2008 "Visit Indonesia Year" and hopes to attract seven million visitors, earning 6.7 billion dollars in foreign exchange revenues.

However, tourist arrival figures indicate the target is unlikely to be reached.

Politicians, artists, rights activists and tourism entrepreneurs on the mainly Hindu island of Bali, Indonesia's premier tourist destination, have vowed to launch a campaign of non-compliance if the pornography bill is passed.

But Azis, a member of the committee drafting the bill, said dramatic changes had been made to earlier versions in a bid to iron out problems.

Lawmakers said the bill could be passed by the end of the month.
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Dodo (not verified) — Tue, 10/21/2008 - 10:31am

Many people have been mischievous on this issue, i myself highly appreciate our legislators initiated the bill, what a relieve to know that there are still clear conscious, reformers, and people's people legislators.My fellow countrymen i would like to point out that the preceding values and beliefs aren't always relevant and carry noble values.don't generalize things, people showing cleavages was in Java only(mainly), not in all other parts of Indonesia, and I can assure you my grandmother don't wear traditional outfit that show cleavage. Sociologists remarks that the values of particular community is subjectively determined by its subjects, therefore it is up to the subjects to set up new values that don't concord the preceding ones as they see fit (it is the phenomenon either in the west or east) .Then it is proper and rightful of them to lead our civilization to the better state. it is the nature of world.You can't fight it!!!

Asti (not verified) — Mon, 10/20/2008 - 2:57pm

I think before they pass the bill, those Indonesian lawmakers should take a good look at their parents' old photo albums. What sort of outfits did his/her mother wear then. Because I still have a fresh memory about my own mother, aunties, grandmas and female neighbors. They walked around in their low-cut kebayas that show off a little bit of their cleavages and midriffs. And no-one made any fuss about that!!In fact it was fashionable then.
Therefore in my opinion, this pornography bill they're proposing now is unnecessary as well scary. I wouldn't be surprised if next time they'll tell us to wear burqa and ban all the female citizens of Indonesia from getting education. And we'll become a bunch of dumb and useless citizens who are forever in the mercy of our male counterparts.
I reckon what they're doing now is just wasting time. It'd be better off if they more concentrate on things in building up this nation. Not walking around like a bunch of headless chickens.

Schmerly (not verified) — Sat, 10/18/2008 - 8:47am

Once again the law makers are making total mess of this porn bill, how is it going to be implemented and who is going to enforce it, the corrupt police and 'Razia' raid or other hard-line bigots who take it upon their self’s to interpret this law into what they think is pornographic? This bill will be an open house to extort money in the name of religion. So you can wear a bikini here but you can’t wear it there, you can wear this but you can’t wear that! What kind of (democracy) do we have here and do the men have a dress code? It seems most of this bill is about the control of women just like in places such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan Etc. I feel sorry for the women of Indonesia who are already treated like second class citizens, as they will have to bear the brunt of this bill. And what about the people of Papua and other cultures in Indonesia who show a bit of flesh in their traditional dress, who is going to protect their rights and what dispensation will they get if any. This bill is a total farce! way to go Indonesia backwards not forwards.

Joost (not verified) — Fri, 10/17/2008 - 5:58pm

great news!!!!
Glad they could make this decision after months of delibarations!!
I'm really curious about the next big decision.

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