JAKARTA,
April 11 (AFP) -
Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-populated country, could soon get its
first legal casinos, an official said Thursday.
Investors have expressed interest in developing casinos on an island chain north
of Jakarta, said Abdul Kadir, chief administrator of the Seribu (Thousand)
Islands.
"There have been discussions on it. Many investors have expressed their desire to set up a casino but only one investor has submitted a written proposal," he said, without naming the investor.
Kadir told AFP the plan was still at an early stage but he was "optimistic" about the prospects.
"I'm aware that all religions forbid gambling but rather than allowing illegal gambling to mushroom out of control in Jakarta it is better to isolate it in a designated place," Kadir said.
Gambling is deemed to be illegal in Indonesia unless there is a specific authorisation.
Kadir said the future gambling resorts would be strictly for members and would not be accessible to the general public. It is projected to contribute 1.5 trillion rupiah (156 million dollars) annually to the capital's revenues.
"I will prohibit Seribu islanders from gambling because it is haram (forbidden in Islam)," he said.
He said his office had informed residents on the islands and most of them did not object the plan.
The Seribu Island chain actually consists of 110 islands. Nine have been designated as tourist resorts. Some 18,000 people live on the islands and most make a living from fishing.
The country's highest Islamic authority, the Indonesian Council of Ulama (scholars), said it opposed the plan.
"We will not tolerate any type of gambling anywhere," deputy chairman Umar Shihab told AFP.
"Who
can guarantee that illegal gambling will disappear once the casino centre is
established? We will ask them to reconsider the plan," he said.
Sumber :
HarakahDaily
http://www.harakahdaily.net