Got a tip? Send it to us at jakarta@coconuts.co
Yesterday, Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama floated the idea of creating specially regulated apartments within which prostitution could take place legally. This was in response to growing concerns about the spread of underground prostitution in the capital.
The idea immediately received criticism for conservative quarters that outright rejected the notion. Which is just what Ahok expected. The governor said he would take these critics into consideration, perhaps by officially banning those who oppose the idea from setting foot in the proposed red light districts.
“Maybe later in the red light districts we’ll also write something like, those who are holy may not enter. Yeah, just like that. Why not?” Ahok said at City Hall yesterday, as quoted by Kompas.
Ahok admitted that he first suggested the idea to see what the public’s reaction would be. If it was highly opposed, he said he wanted to know what ideas the critics had as an alternative.
“I say, all [the critics] just say “forbidden.” So what’s your solution? I have a solution. You can take it or leave it. But don’t just talk. What your solution? If you don’t agree with my solution, fine, but don’t just offer polemics,” he said.
