The party’s stance was conveyed by PKS secretary general Habib Aboe Bakar Alhabsyi at the opening session of the party's national working meeting here on Monday.
The defense of Indonesians pertains to various dimensions of the nation's interests, including safety of the soul, and economic, social, and political interests, Alhabsyi said.
"Thus, refusing investment in the liquor industry is also part of defending our people," he told the meeting's participants.
President Joko Widodo signed the Presidential Regulation (No.10/2021) on Investment on February 2, 2021, opening up investments in the alcoholic beverages industry in the provinces of Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, and Papua.
In response to the regulation, Filep Wamafma, a member of the Regional Representatives' Council (DPD) who represents West Papua's electoral area, made an earnest request to President Widodo to revoke the investment permit.
"We appeal to Mr. President to revoke the government's investment permit for the alcoholic beverages industry in Papua," Wamafma said in a press statement received by ANTARA on Saturday.
He warned of a spike in crime rate following liquor intake in the country's easternmost province.
The regulation on investment is a follow-up to the job creation law that the House of Representatives (DPR) passed last year.
"Referring to the presidential regulation, the liquor industry may obtain investments from both foreign and domestic investors," Wamafma stated.
Investment in the liquor industry could also come from cooperative units and small and medium enterprises, he remarked.
ANTARA has reported on how alcohol consumption remains a grave problem in Papua, although the production, distribution, and sale of liquor has officially been prohibited in the province since 2016.
The consumption of alcoholic beverages among local community members is believed to have contributed to shortened life expectancy among native Papuans. (INE)
Related news: Local wisdom cannot be pretext for legalizing liquor: MUI Chairman
Related news: Jokowi urged to retract investment permit for Papua's liquor industry
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Genta TM, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
