Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung – The West Java chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has been criticized by several Muslim organizations for describing as halal two planned "royal" game centers in Bandung.
Representatives from the organizations criticized the MUI's stance on the matter at a meeting with Bandung Police chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Suparsono on Wednesday.
The two game centers, located in Matahari Banceuy and Kelenteng, are scheduled to be opened Thursday. However, the owners have been prevented from entering the centers by police officers.
Athian Ali, the chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Ummat Forum, said two former gambling bosses in Bandung were believed to have been behind plans to establish the game centers.
The "royal" game business itself consists of games with rewards, ranging from pencils to electronic products such as mobile phones, dispenser units, washing machines, television sets and refrigerators.
Many people consider the concept to be gambling, as customers are obliged to pay for the chance to try to win the goods.
"I know there are two former gambling bosses behind this business. I also believe the facilities will soon be altered to become gambling arenas," Athian said after Wednesday's meeting.
Syaiful Abdullah, the head of the Bandung chapter of the Islamic Defenders Front, shared Athian's sentiment, saying some players would win, but many more would lose. "Just go ahead and open the centers, but our forces will be ready to destroy anything related to gambling," Syaiful said.
Dedi Zein, a spokesman from the Association of Games Businessmen, said the MUI gave his association the blessing to open the centers in April. The halal ruling was signed by both the chairman of MUI's West Java chapter Hafidz Ustman and its halal team head, Salim Umar.
The businessmen have also secured licenses from the tourism service section at the Regional Tourism Office and from the Bandung Investment Office. Dedi said with these licenses, it was thought further permission from the police was not necessary.
"We held a police license in 2006, but it was later revoked so we filed a civil lawsuit with the State Management Court and won on Nov. 23, 2007. That is why we are confident we will be able to open the businesses by the end of this year," he said.
Dedi said an initial delay in opening the facilities had nothing to do with licensing. "It was more about our intention to maintain security in Bandung. We will tell people about how the games operate so it is clear this is not gambling," Dedi said.