Jakarta – Bogor Mayor Bima Arya Sugiarto has ordered all nightclubs, karaoke bars and massage parlors in the West Java city to close during the month of Ramadan as a sign of respect for Muslims who are fasting.
Bima said the Bogor administration would enforce the order during the Islamic fasting month by deploying patrols involving public order officers, personnel from other relevant agencies and subdistrict heads.
Bogor also planned to seek the assistance of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police to enforce the ban, he added.
"This [Ramadan] is an annual tradition and we want everyone to respect this. All night entertainment spots should be closed. There is no exception," said Bima, who hails from the National Mandate Party (PAN).
The mayor said public orders officers would also keep an eye on any parades and motorcades during sahur (predawn meal), as they could create security problems in residential neighborhoods.
"Please, if people want to have sahur, don't do so while parading on the streets," Bima said.
The government has declared that Ramadan starts on the evening of March 12.
However, some religious organizations, including the country's second-largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah, have told its members to start fasting on March 11.