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Issue of the day: Karaoke allowed to open during Ramadhan
Raided: An officer of the Bogor Public Order Agency gives instruction to suspected sex workers arrested during an operation on June 13, days before the start of Ramadhan
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Raided: An officer of the Bogor Public Order Agency gives instruction to suspected sex workers arrested during an operation on June 13, days before the start of Ramadhan.(Antara/Jafkhairi) (Antara/Jafkhairi)
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span class="inline inline-center">Raided: An officer of the Bogor Public Order Agency gives instruction to suspected sex workers arrested during an operation on June 13, days before the start of Ramadhan.(Antara/Jafkhairi)
June 17, Online
Karaoke and live music houses in the capital city may continue operations during Ramadhan.
The head of the Tourism and Culture Agency in North Jakarta, Suwarto, said on Wednesday that other than karaoke and live music houses, all entertainment centers, discotheques, spas and massage parlors were required to suspend their daily activities during the fasting month.
Your comments:
Indonesia has a population that is predominantly of the Islamic faith. The small minority of other faiths should tolerate and accommodate the sensitivity and respect the practices of Muslims. Entertainment activities need not entail vice or morally undesirable activities.
The temporary suspension or closure of such entertainment activities should not create any significant inconvenience, and those conducting such businesses should voluntarily take accommodative actions to suspend their business for Ramadhan.
There are other forms of entertainment to indulge in that are healthier and more beneficial. The data on Jakarta having a 25 million population with 10 percent, or 2.5 million, being of non-Islamic faith should be further clarified as to how many of the 2.5 million are really affected in the curb on the entertainment business.
In reality, immoral entertainment businesses should not be encouraged. Maybe it's time to rid the country of such undesirable entertainment businesses altogether.
Saw
Who is going to replace the income of the temporary jobless employees? Some of them surely have families to feed.
Snap
Jakarta has a population of 10 million and adherents to minority religions comprise 15 percent of the population. Anyone who has visited these establishments knows, however, that the vast majority of the customers are Muslims.
Mamat
It is a curious demand made of minority groups by the Muslim majority. However, when Muslims form only a small minority in their adopted countries, they make the same request of the non-Muslim majority.
I remember a few years back in Melbourne, several councils were forced to tone down their Christmas decorations or cancel them all together because they offended Muslim sensitivities.
Recently, a court in Melbourne ruled in favor of an Afghan woman, saying that due to her religious sensitivities she had the right be seen and treated by female doctors and nurses only.
Hospitals have now been told to accommodate the needs of these burqa-wearing women. This has the potential to cause an unnecessary backlog in the maternity ward, as Muslim women tend to have four or five children each.
I suppose for Muslims, equal opportunities means everyone gets the chance to do what Muslims demand. Christmas in a non-Muslim country is all about giving (in to their demands). Ramadhan in a Muslim country is all about taking (away my liberties).
Abu Abu
Shouldn't it purely be up to the individual not go to these venues? Do the authorities think that people will go wild all of sudden, during Ramadhan, just because a business is open? Surely it should be up to the customer and the business owner. Or is it religious enforcement?
I don't understand the concept of someone who is supposed to be controlling himself or herself during this period getting upset because others are going about their lives. This is against the spirit of Ramadhan. It is state enforcement of the majority religion. If massage parlors, pubs and nightclubs operate with discretion and not in a residential area, then there should be no issue.
In the West, there is limited trading on Christmas and Easter Friday, but that is two days out the year, not 28. No one, let alone the government, forces other people to partake in Lent or Christmas festivities, etc.
I think if Muslims want to partake in fasting and the rest of it then that's great. I admire their discipline. However, saying they need businesses to close down because they may get sensitive is a bit weak in principle. It seems the government has no faith in the faithful to behave themselves.
Nate
Religion is a personal matter. If someone wishes to go to a place of entertainment they obviously do not impact on yours or anyone else's right to worship in any sense, so what business is it of anyone to infringe upon the rights of Indonesian citizens?
It is a slippery and ugly slope once tyranny of the majority is tolerated. It won't be long before we see women forced to wear the hijab in Muslim-majority areas.
Rusty nails
Greater Jakarta is home to 25 million people. If 10 percent are non-Muslim, that's 2.5 million ' almost the population of Singapore ' who still need leisure. The venues should be allowed to stay open.
Abdul Malik
