Jakarta – In its latest nonsensical move to squeeze out every last ounce of fun for Jakarta residents, the Jakarta City Council is set to issue a regulation ordering all entertainment venues to close their doors by midnight, in what officials claim is a bid to combat drug trafficking in the capital.

The bylaw on the city's tourism sector has already been drafted and is set to be ratified next Friday, said Mohammad Taufik, head of the Council's Legislation Agency (Balegda).

The questionable bill, which would significantly affect Jakarta's slew of high-earning nightclubs, karaoke bars, "spas" and lounges, will also regulate the general operating hours of the capital's entertainment venues.

Should the bylaw pass the City Council's approval, nightclubs will have to put up their "closed" signs by midnight, Taufik said. Should venues fail to do so, they may face a degree of sanctions, with the heaviest being the revocation of their operating permits.

The decision was met with opposition from Jakarta Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidajat, who proposed a slightly more lenient and mandatory closing time of 2 a.m.

Taufik, however, would have none of that. "We [Balegda officials] have all agreed [on the bylaw] and this has been decided," he said as quoted by Kompas.com.

He added that his office will forward the bylaw to the city administration, Jakarta Police, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and city's fire brigade once the Council has given its approval. "We will evaluate [the rule] every three month. This is not a bluff. We're serious," Taufik said.

The Jakarta government permanently shut down its most notorious nightclub last May following the drug-related death of a police officer at Stadium in Central Jakarta.

Since taking office last October, President Joko Widodo has amped up Indonesia's war on drugs, citing BNN data that claims 50 people die from drug-use every day across the country.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/jakarta-govt-no-entertainment-venues-open-past-midnight/