Multa Fidrus, Tangerang – Tangerang Mayor Wahidin Halim vowed Thursday to come down hard on anyone stepping out of line because of drink or women.

Two city bylaws came into effect in December prohibiting the sale of alcoholic drinks and prostitution. "Three months is long enough to familiarize residents with the bylaws. Starting March 1, we will take legal action against violators," Wahidin said.

A task force was set up for the purpose of enforcing the bylaws. Over the last three months, it has raided a number of markets, confiscating hundreds of thousands of bottles of alcohol and pornographic VCDs. Traders were given verbal warnings only before their merchandise was seized, with no intermediary stage.

Wahidin said he had passed responsibility over to district and subdistrict heads, giving them full authority to enforce the bylaws. "We are tired of seeing drunks all over town and prostitutes on the streets, night after night. With these bylaws, we hope that our city will be free of liquor and prostitution," he added.

The Tangerang Council endorsed the two bylaws on Nov. 21, 2005. Bylaw No. 7/2005 bans the distribution and the sale of alcoholic drinks, except in three to five-star hotels and designated restaurants for on-the-spot consumption.

Bylaw No. 8/2005 bans people in public places, places visible from the street or in red-light districts from persuading or coercing – either through words or gestures – others into acts of prostitution.

It also bans physical intimacy, hugging and/or kissing between two people of the opposite sex in public places or places visible to the public, such as hotels, restaurants, entertainment centers or red-light districts. Violators of either bylaw could face up to three months' jail or a Rp 15 million fine.

However, activists doubt whether local authorities have the will to enforce the bylaws. "Learning from past experience, many bylaws stirred debate before they were endorsed, but turned into paper tigers after the council passed them," Tangerang Islamic Ukuwah Forum chairman Wahyudi told The Jakarta Post.

He cited a bylaw barring pedicabs and street vendors from city thoroughfares. "Pedicabs still operate freely on all main roads, while street vendors have never left the municipality," said Wahyudi.

Separately, Imron Khamami, coordinator of the Pattiro Advocacy Division, voiced similar doubts over the seriousness of local authorities in enforcing the regulations.