Ahok says he was only able to close Stadium nightclub because the police actually backed him up

Stadium nightclub before it got shut down forever

Acting Governor of Jakarta Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama permanently shut down Jakarta’s most infamous nightclub, Stadium, back in May after a police officer was found to have overdosed in the club. Stadium’s status as a place to easily score drugs was an open secret in Jakarta for well over fifteen years, but one that the authorities seemed powerless, or unwilling, to do anything about.  That is, until the infamously fearless Ahok seemed to get the place shut down through pure force of will alone.

But now Ahok admits that he couldn’t have gotten Stadium shut down if he didn’t have backup. When asked about it during an interview with Detik, Ahok said praise for Stadium’s closure should actually go to somebody else.
 
“It is not my praise, the praise should go to Comr. Gen. Suhardi Alius alone, three stars. If not for his back-up it wouldn’t be closed,” Ahok explained, referring to the the National Police’s chief of general crime division.

“I dared because I had police back-up. If there is a civilian using a pistol, it’s just a water pistol unless you have police bullets,” he added.

According Ahok, the shutdown Stadium had to be done because it was considered to be out of control. Various warnings had been delivered, but there was no change.

There were rumors that Ahok was actually friends with the owner of Stadium, and it turns out there was a tiny bit of truth to that. “Yes, well neighbors anyway, if you want to say it like that.”

But Ahok said it didn’t matter who was breaking the law, whether it be an acquaintance, friend or even sibling. His job was to serve justice. 

“If you want to live safely and comfortably, there has to be order, there has to be a rule of law, and it has to be indiscriminate. That’s why the goddess of justice has her eyes closed, holding scales and a sword too. Yeah, that’s kind of the principle.” he said.

Source: Detik 



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