Golkar, PDIP Legislators Reject Alcohol Prohibition Bill

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Golkar Party and PDIP factions in the House of Representatives (DPR) have signaled rejection against the bill (RUU) on alcohol prohibition, which has been deliberated by DPR members of the past period. 

The main issue surrounding it is that legislators proposing this bill plans to include it in the 2021 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas). 

According to Firman Soebagyo, Golkar faction leader at DPR legislation board (Baleg), discussions about the bill had always been hampered by the contrasting views the government and legislators have toward the issue. 

“The government wants [the draft law] to be a regulator but the people proposing the bill want it to be a prohibition,” said Firman on Thursday, November 12.

He also reminded that diversity is an aspect that needs to be considered in terms of traditional alcoholic beverages that are used in many religious traditions or rituals such as in Bali, Papua, North Sumatra, East Nusa Tenggara, up to North Sulawesi.

Echoing Firman’s concerns, PDIP faction legislator Sturman Panjaitan asked for the bill’s proposers to be more considerate toward the diversity that forms Indonesia’s society which involves the use of small doses of alcohol. As a Christian, he questioned the draft law’s effect on his holy communion. 

“So should there be no holy communions anymore?” said Panjaitan in the Baleg meeting on November 10. 

Read: PPP, PKS, and Gerindra Propose Alcoholic Drink Prohibition Bill

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