Jakarta – The Jakarta administration has instructed all nightlife venues to shut down operations for Ramadhan one day before the fasting month begins next week.
The instruction was given in a circular issued by the Jakarta Tourism and Culture Agency. The establishments asked to close include nightclubs, spas and massage parlors, gaming centers and bars.
However, businesses located inside hotels or shopping malls can operate within limited hours.
Karaoke parlors or pubs can operate from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., while family karaoke parlors are allowed to operate from 2 p.m. until 2 a.m.
Family karaoke parlors, however, are banned from selling alcoholic beverages.
The agency's official, Toni Bako, said he expected all tourist business owners to obey the instruction. "Should they disobey, we will issue sanctions," he said on Friday as quoted by wartakota.tribunnew.com.(iwa)