Having No Authority, Police Ban Sweeping Ormas Night Entertainment Places During Ramadan

Illustration of Entertainment Places (Pexels)

JAKARTA - Polda Metro Jaya prohibits groups or community organizations (ormas) from conducting sweeps of night entertainment venues during Ramadan. This is because the police and related agencies have the authority to do so.

"We urge any community organizations not to sweep in entertainment venues," said Director of Drug Investigation at Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Hengki to reporters, Saturday, March 25.

The authority rests with the police because it is regulated by Law Number 2 of 2002 concerning the Indonesian National Police.

The Police and the Regional Government (Pemda) will take action and ensure that all nightclubs comply with operational hours.

Meanwhile, based on a circular letter from the Tourism and Creative Economy Office Number e-0009/SE/2023 concerning the Implementation of Tourism Businesses in the Holy Month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 1444 H, nightclubs can only operate until 00.00 WIB.

"We are the ones who are given the mandate is the responsibility of the Directorate of Drugs at the Metro Jaya Police with relevant agencies including those in the city district," said Hengki.

Thus, mass organizations are prohibited from controlling or sweeping nightclubs. The reason is because they do not have the authority.

"The order of the leadership of the Regional Police Chief, none of the mass organizations carried out sweeping because they did not have the authority," he said.

"We must anticipate all entertainment venues by the relevant agencies before any unlawful acts are carried out by mass organizations, which are not their authority," said Hengki.