The Serang City Government has taken firm legal action by closing 10 night entertainment venues deemed to have deviated from regional regulations. This policy received full support from the Serang City DPRD, which considers the action a concrete response to citizens' complaints regarding the rampant illegal activities that seemed to be condoned.
Speaker of the Serang City DPRD, Muji Rohman, highlighted the boldness of the entertainment venue operators who openly promoted their activities through digital platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. The promotional actions carried out through live broadcast features had created a false perception among the public that the operations of these venues possessed official legality.
As a follow-up, the Serang City Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) has officially sealed the violating business locations. The DPRD emphasized that this crackdown will not stop at temporary administrative actions. If the operators are found to reopen their business operations, the local government has prepared heavier sanctions, namely the permanent revocation of business licenses to provide a deterrent effect.
The city government does not actually ban entertainment business activities, as long as operators can comply with the rules in the Regional Regulation (Perda). Several crucial points emphasized include a strict ban on the distribution of alcoholic beverages and the provision of escort services. For business operators who only promote music entertainment in accordance with the applicable regulatory corridors, the government still provides room to operate.
Furthermore, the DPRD is currently reviewing a revision of the Perda that will grant broader authority to Satpol PP officers in acting on the field. One of the main proposed points is the granting of authority to seize goods related to violations, as a security measure to strengthen law enforcement in Serang City.
