The nightspots of Batam are urged to close down for Ramadhan.
Chairman of the Clerics’ Council, Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), Ma’ruf Amin urged the owners of bars, discos, and probably brothels on the holiday island of Batam to close down entirely while Muslims observe the fasting month of Ramadan.
They make plenty of profit over 11 months, it’s not too much to ask them to close down for one month.
He advised the government of Batam on August 24th to think carefully over how they could avoid conflict between entertainment businessmen and Muslim organisations over the issue, and complained that the Batam authorities were dragging their feet over deciding whether to force nightspots to shut.
Ma’ruf Amin.
The mayor of Batam, Ahmad Dahlan, said the Tourism Office was still debating the issue. If a new ruling was not forthcoming then the old law, from 2006, would remain in force. In this law nightspots must close for the two days before Ramadan starts, the first eight days of fasting, then the two days of Nuzulul Quran, and finally the last five days of the month, – total 17 days.
Syamsul Bahrum of the Tourism Office says that nightspot owners reject the plea of the MUI. antara
The businessmen say that their staff still need employment and they still need to make money in order to pay the end of Ramadan bonus, THR.
I don’t like such establishments, but I don’t understand why should the businessmen/-women close their establishments?
Some alternative reasons:
– to protect the moslems doing their duty of worship against any temptation able to weak their believe and moral. Question: do they have such weak moral and believe? And how about the rest of the year? Are their moral and believe stronger than during the fasting month?
– the businessmen/-women have to respect the moslems doing their duty of worship.
Question: do the moslems respect followers of other religions and believes? Or: “we are the strongest so only we have the right to ask for this”?
Someone knows other reasons?
Friends, perhap what Ma’ruf Amin was trying to say is that curfew should be imposed on all non-believers during our bulan suci. We do not need troublemakers.
I respect the Moslems right to fast and have their worship.
Why can’t they respect MY right to go see sexy ladies dancing?
I agree with Tomaculum. Are their faith SO weak that they must remove ALL temptations? In my view, a better test of faith and piety would be to FACE those temptations and overcome them.
And last, they must remember that Batam is like a second Bali. What are those businesses going to do when all the tourists come, and because of some moralistic in the community, they can’t stay open? What is going to happen to that tourism revenue, which ends up benefiting the entire community?
And what will happen when those tourists go home advise their friends against going to Batam, because all the fun places are closed and it is too boring? Such attitudes could contribute to an economic depression in the area, which would benefit no one!
He advised the government of Batam on August 24th to think carefully over how they could avoid conflict between entertainment businessmen and Muslim organisations over the issue, and complained that the Batam authorities were dragging their feet over deciding whether to force nightspots to shut.
Why should they shut, what harm do they bring to Ramadan. Every year, dictated to by a religeous group. May be the other groups should get together and ask the mosques to turn down the volume in the call to prayer so all other good citizens can get to sleep instead of listening to that insesent racket all night.
F*ck MUI, does the moslems’ moral are so weak that during Ramadhan that they can’t see anyone drinking alcohol or does the night spots will tainted their “holly month”. If Ramadhan is called as holly month, why do you need to defend it. God doesn’t need any human to defend him.
I say this is pathetic and sad, instead of calling businessman to close their establishment, why not make an announcement that any bureaucrat caught accept bribes etc will be punished twice harder if caught during Ramadhan. Why not issue a statement that the worst morality crime is the deep rooted corruption and those moslems that caught participate in such crime should be punish, no exception.
I keep wondering why is it moslems have such a low confidence and on the other hand feel more superior and arrogant to other religion. I don’t like to go to nightclub anymore but since I’m in Indonesia I’m planning to go to nightclub establishment during Ramadhan. Try to stop me MUI, FPI, whatever the f*ck you want to call yourself so called moral guardian yet you never seems to bother to do something in a fight against corruption in this country.
Boni. We all applaud you. Stand up and be counted.
BRAVO Boni!!!
Jokoboyo said : it maybe better to close down all the night-life ‘sex & alcololic related’ entertainment in the entire Nusantara FOREVER …. then there will be no more conflict or debate about when they can open and when to close the operation.
We just want to live peacefully …
“Jokoboyo said : it maybe better to close down all the night-life ‘sex & alcololic related’ entertainment in the entire Nusantara FOREVER “¦. then there will be no more conflict or debate about when they can open and when to close the operation.”
Then they will aggravate the debates and protests about the opening times of the churchs and temples.
“We just want to live peacefully “¦”
Who wants to live peacefully?? An other joke, Jokoboyo? 🙂
Sylvester said:
Buddhism is much better in dealing with temptation. The reason is islam main point of view is all men born bad, so they need a strict law and punishment. Just a copy of Legalism in classical China. Christianity and Buddhism (the two largest religions) see men are born good, if men are loved and teached good things, they will be good.
Actually, according to Islam, when man is first born, he is pure and his essential nature is intertwined with Islam. Muslims believe that as one grows, they become estranged from their initial purity, and then they must make an effort to “return” to Islam.
Christianity is the opposite. Christians believe in the concept of “original sin”, by which all humans are born already tainted by the sins of Adam and Eve. Christians must be forgiven by God for this so that they may enter Heaven.
And I am not so sure that Buddhists are any better at dealing with temptations. Look at Thailand, for example, where Thai men are notorious for frequenting prostitutes outside of their marriages.
“entertainment business and organization” entertainment make the soul happy and its done at night. Organization performs its work during the day time. There is a clear separation between the two. So people in the entertainment business go to work at night and has the freedom of choice to work otherwise go to sleep. The ones who work during day stay home at night unless they have uncontrollable evil urge.
Actually, according to Islam, when man is first born, he is pure and his essential nature is intertwined with Islam. Muslims believe that as one grows, they become estranged from their initial purity, and then they must make an effort to “return” to Islam.
Christianity is the opposite. Christians believe in the concept of “original sin”, by which all humans are born already tainted by the sins of Adam and Eve. Christians must be forgiven by God for this so that they may enter Heaven.
And I am not so sure that Buddhists are any better at dealing with temptations. Look at Thailand, for example, where Thai men are notorious for frequenting prostitutes outside of their marriages.
Well said Peter, you hit the nail on the head.
Also Sylvester is dreaming, Buddhism is not the largest religion, it is one of the smallest religions. Besides a Buddhist monk does not marry, so who is he to advise on marital relationships, families, society, etc., he does not experience any of this.
Buddhism is a man-made religion, invented by a king from India, Siddharta Gautama Buddha, who gave up his kingdom to go into the jungle and become a monk. One cannot take themselves out of the world, and expect to teach the world about worldly things.
Sylvester go get some knowledge first, your ignorance and bias is showing.
As for the other bad-mouthers, Indonesia is a predominently Muslim country, based on family values, take your pubs, and brothels and women to your own countries. Don’t you have mothers and sisters, would you want them to go sell themselves to other men, or there a double standard.
Respect others as you would want yourselves and your families respected, that includes women in your families.
Actually if Indonesia was a Muslim country why does the constitution not say so? Maybe because it is in fact a diverse country with lots of different religions and races and the framers of the constitution realised that they had to include everybody in order to free themselves from the dutch. The solution is simple for those who wish to fast during ramadhan. Just go ahead! Nobody is stopping you. Why restrict everyone? Why remove the temptation if you want to develop a strong character? As for the comment that people who enjoy pubs etc should leave Indonesia well you might as well pack up everything east of java, north sulawesi, parts of sumatra etc… If people truly wanted the bars, discos and nightclubs to close they would stop frequenting those places and they would eventually go out of business. Until that happens leave em alone.
I agree with you for the most part pj_bali. But the reason people frequent these places is because they can get cheap alcohol and women, they are exploiting the situation.
It saddens me to see old, most times very old westerners, most of them married with grand children, coming to places like Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, etc. to exploit young girls and women here.
It is a crime in the US and most other western countries to solicit young, under age girls for sex. It is unfortunate that in these poor eastern countries, due to economic reasons some women get into this business of sex, and these pedophiles and cheapskates from the west exploit them.
If they tried this back in their countries they would find their asses in jail in no time.
I am from the US, and I know the government is doing what it can to prevent this type of exploitation. There is even a law on the books now that if a US citizen travels to another country and solicits under age girls or boys for sex, he/she can be prosecuted in the US. Some citizens have been extradited to the US and prosecuted, but only after a news channel exposed them in Bangkok and Thailand. But there are too, too many cases going on everyday in all parts of the world, and there are no resources for any government, US or otherwise to prosecute all.
It is citizens like us, citizens of the world, and other decent human beings that need to do whatever we can to stop this exploitation, one girl, woman, boy at a time.
Thanks for your intelligent and well written answer pj_bali.
Same old story every year whenever near to Ramadhan. Closing down the entertainment places during Ramadhan will not making Muslims holier or even go to heaven to enjoy their virgins.
If MUI keep forcing such egoistic request on and on and on like this, please make MUI be responsible in paying the salaries and maintain the welfare of the workers in entertainment sector and of course, also pay the taxes of the business during the Ramadhan.
PB
Very funny posting. Logically it would be a fair solution if you deny people an income you should compensate them in some way. However this is Indonesia soooo…I can’t see the MUI adopting this approach any time soon. Imagine what the papers would say if the MUI followed your suggestion? I can see the headlines now…MUI SUPPORTS BROTHELS AND NIGHTCLUBS. Wouldn’t that be something eh? Keep the spin doctors busy for months.
The idea of Ramadhan is for people to be able to resist worldly tempation. If the Muslims can’t do that then it’s not the places fault. Muslims should be able to resist the temptations anyway on day-to-day basis. But being Muslims seems to mean that you can blame wrong things on other people and pick other people’s fault without looking into themselves first.
sohail,
just want to say that not all people going to nightclubs and bars are paedofiles looking for underage children to exploit. Lots of people just like to go out and meet new people, meet their friends or even go dancing with their wives and husbands.
sohail,
just want to say that not all people going to nightclubs and bars are paedofiles looking for underage children to exploit. Lots of people just like to go out and meet new people, meet their friends or even go dancing with their wives and husbands.
You are so correct Jamma, I ve spent many a good time ( with my Indonesian wife may I add ) out at night clubs,bars etc as do many couples, Not all people are out hunting for underage sex. However I will recount a time in about 1993 I went to a bar in Kota. I was shocked by what transpired in this bar, yes it was a bar where men could go for underage sex, both boys and girls. Now the patronage there were predominantly all Indonesian men, I would guess around 90 men were in this bar. Now Indonesia is 90% Muslim, so by a simple calculation that would make 81 of those men Muslims. Doesn’t figure does it, them being so pure and upstanding and all
But the reason people frequent these places is because they can get cheap alcohol and women, they are exploiting the situation. It saddens me to see old, most times very old westerners, most of them married with grand children, coming to places like Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, etc. to exploit young girls and women here.
1. Alcohol and women at such places aren’t cheap, Sohail. Do you really think it is cheap? 🙂
2. Why only westerner? Maybe you should visit those establishments and watch how (rich) Indonesian and maybe also some from Saudi Arabia, Singapore, or even Malaysia enjoy the services up there?
3. Why does the exploitation of women and children still work? Because there are many people involved in this business. As businessmen/-women (yessss, also women!!), as clientele, distributor etc, etc and last but not least: as “protector“.
Assalamualaikum Pak mingo, re
…..However I will recount a time in about 1993 I went to a bar in Kota. I was shocked by what transpired in this bar, yes it was a bar where men could go for underage sex, both boys and girls. Now the patronage there were predominantly all Indonesian men, I would guess around 90 men were in this bar. Now Indonesia is 90% Muslim, so by a simple calculation that would make 81 of those men Muslims. Doesn’t figure does it, them being so pure and upstanding and all
You are insulting Islam by the way you describe underage sex as ‘shocking’. Our beloved prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) at age 53 (equivalent of age 70+ in the 21st century) had shown mankind that it is Allah certified by deflowering Aisha (Allah swt be pleased with her) when she was a child playing with dolls. There are countless hadithes proving that there is nothing immoral about it. Unless these Bules pedophiles convert to Islam, I see they are ‘potential upright Muslims’ following in the footstep of our great prophet.
Salam.
I read somewhere that Americans spent $10b p.a. in the sex industry more than what they spent on foreign aid.
Maybe poor countries should be supplying Americans with porn.
You are insulting Islam by the way you describe underage sex as ‘shocking’. Our beloved prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) at age 53 (equivalent of age 70+ in the 21st century) had shown mankind that it is Allah certified by deflowering Aisha (Allah swt be pleased with her) when she was a child playing with dolls. There are countless hadithes proving that there is nothing immoral about it. Unless these Bules pedophiles convert to Islam, I see they are ‘potential upright Muslims’ following in the footstep of our great prophet.
Salam.
You are one very sick puppy my freind. If you think that molesting the young is the way of YOUR god so be it you can have it, However if the interference of the young and innocent, Those of who cannot fight back is rife within the Muslim family I pity your wives and your daughters.However there is a cure and relativly inexpensive and comes in many calibres 38 , 45 , 303 , 308 , 7.62 . Peace brother
I agree with you Wayne, that is very sick outlook indeed. What is he trying to say anyway? That in Islam is okay to have sex with underage. These people are either corrupted or dumb that they can’t tell the difference between right or wrong just because it is written in some holly book or said so by some clerics.
Underage is shocking in a bar in kota, thanks for the information Wayne. I believe you know the name of the place and you should report this to authority. What kind people that will defend underage sex as something legal because it is written in their holly book? If Islam really describe that it is okay to have sex with underage and moslems actually believe that is still okay to do so, than trust me aluang anak bawang, no one try to insult your islam here, but you. Because your mind, your way of thinking do not evolve, your mind is still trap in old primitive tradition. You have insulted islam by saying there is nothing immoral about it.
Good luck defending islam this way.
Dear Pak Wayne,
You are one very sick puppy my freind.
You are very ignorant about our noble Quran, but from your background I am not surprised. You are indirecting insulting our prophet and the rest of our ulamah. We are merely following his footstep.
…..If you think that molesting the young is the way of YOUR god so be …..
Allah swt created you and me, and the rest of mankind. Stop being a hypocrite.
However there is a cure and relativly inexpensive and comes in many calibres 38 , 45 , 303 , 308 , 7.62 . Peace brother
My religion is against violence, and I see no reason why you want to end my life prematurely. Islam is all about peace, and even though you wish me harm, I pray that Allah will forgive you.
Salam.
come on Aluang, I’m dying here!!!! You are being burlesque no? I can’t gel with this new you? What happened? somebody spiked your tea?
Burlesque? Not in billion years! I’m not making fun of our beloved religion. I believe the religion to be perfect. I believe the Prophet (SAW) was a perfect man and perfect model. I would never make fun of the amazing companions the Prophet (SAW) had. Sex with children is perfectly halal if you are a Muslim.
There are many hadithes which support it. Examples,
Muslim (8:3309) – Muhammad married Aisha at the age of nine.
Bukhari (62:18) – Aisha’s father, Abu Bakr, wasn’t on board at first, but Muhammad explained how the rules of their religion made it possible.
Muslim (8:3311) – The girl took her dolls with her to Muhammad’s house (something to play with when the “prophet” was not having sex with her).
Bukhari (6:298) – Muhammad would take a bath with the little girl and fondle her.
Muslim (8:3460) – “Why didn’t you marry a young girl so that you could sport with her and she could sport with you, or you could amuse with her and she could amuse with you?” Muhammad posed this question to one of his followers who had married an “older woman” instead.
You may also be surprise to know that a pious Muslim can order his son to divorce the wife in order to marry daughter-in-law. Those who call us ‘sick puppy’ or primitive are just plain jealous.
Salam.
you are making me sick…. I think I’ve had enough now. sorry, but I have children. Totally put me off islam now.
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Hmm. This sounds interesting. I suggest that the nightspots be allowed to operate, but all those “indecently dressed” are to stay within 200m radius of nightspots. If any known Muslim is caught entering, an arrest warrant may be issued, he may be sent to jail, and Allah willing, be stoned to death. So nightspots can attract visitors and continue business, and Muslims do not have to see unsightly flesh hanging around filthy sexy ladies.