TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Islam Defender Front (FPI) chairman Muchsin Alatas said the late issuance of the presidential regulation on liquor restriction in December 2013 reflected that the central government is not being serious in monitoring liquor distribution. The government, Muchsin said, always gives liquor cartels a leeway to run their businesses illegally.

“[The government] should no longer compromise. The presidential regulation is not enough,” Muchsin said on Saturday, December 20, 2014.

Muchsin revelaed that the FPI will apply for a petition to the Supreme Court over the Presidential Regulation Number 74/2013 on alcoholic beverages control, as the FPI viewed that the regulation has failed to control liquor distribution. The petition, Muchsin said, is related to the increasing number of fatalities due to bootleg liquor.

Muchsin explained, the FPI had applied for a petition for the previous regulation back in 2013. The Supreme Court, through a decision letter dated June 18, 2013, granted the lawsuit against the Presidential Regulation Number 3/1997 on alcohol beverages.

According to Muchsin, the momentum had allowed regional governments in Indonesia to issue a regional regulation to ban liquor distribution.

LINDA HAIRANI