A traditional Bengkalis house

By Kazi Mahmood, IOL Southeast Asia correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR, November 3 (IslamOnline.net) - The Indonesian Island of Bengkalis, one of the 14 counties in the Riau province, has imposed strict rules against eating in public during Ramadan day and has enforced other rules affecting activities considered illegal for Muslims in the fasting month, a well-known writer from the Island told Islamonline.net Monday, November 3.

“The Island has imposed a new ruling on footstalls and shops selling food for the month of Ramadan obliging them either to close down during day time or to remain open for business as usual,” Muhammad Isa Selamat said.

“Officers of the district carries regular checks on who eats at these premises during fasting time,” added Isa Selamat, who wrote countless books on Islam and on Riau Province.

For the Muslims on this remote Island located in the Malacca straits, these rulings are new and never thought of before.

The arrest of several Muslims eating openly in the restaurants Friday, October 31, showed the importance of enforcing the rulings, according to Isa Selamat.

“In the past, until recently, the people who did not fast could be seen eating and drinking at restaurants that were operating behind closed doors,” said Isa.

The new rulings enforced by Rozali Saidun Sh, District Officer of the city of Bengkalis, were decided with the approval of the offices of the “Bupati” or Chief Minister, who acts as the regent of the entire county.

Some Muslims were also arrested for their involvement in gambling at the start of the holy month. They were caught playing cards and gambling during fasting time.

”Released on bail, they will have to face the due process of the court,” said Rozali Saidun, who visits the Island regularly.

“The whole thing is a process of educating those who normally would not fast for no reasons at all that they have no where to go to find food and that they cannot defy others by eating in public.

“It will also teach them that in this auspicious holy month, Muslims of age must engage totally in the sacrifices of Ramadan,” Isa told IslamOnline.net in Kuala Lumpur.

Isa further added that before this ruling was enforced, the restaurants and other food outlets were serving people during day time, not respecting the month of Ramadan.

“They would close their doors, but the customers would come from behind and have their meals therein, which is not what should happen in Ramadan,” said Isa who supports the new rulings.

He, however, added that for those who do not follow the fasting month on the Island, including some rogue elements of the society, this ruling would seem extreme.

Nevertheless, in Bengkalis, which is a small Island the size of Singapore Island and which is rich in oil and gas resources, the majority of Muslims there usually receive Ramadan with great fervor.

The Mosques on the Island are now distributing leaflets on a daily basis, narrating hadiths and verses of the Holy Qur’an as well as stories of Prophets to the Muslims.

On Friday’s sermon, Imams of Mosques instructed people on the respect they should have for the holy month and on the meaning of the sacrifices that this holy month carries with it.

Bengkalis comprises half a million people living on different Islands and is one of the most peaceful and quiet places in Indonesia. It has beautiful beaches and sceneries and is making strides in economic progress with the setting up of various small scale industries, assisted by the government in place.

Ninety percent of the population is of Islamic faith, with the rest being mostly Chinese of origin.

Muslims are involved in business, administration and runs the major agencies of the Island. They are also strong in agriculture though the Chinese are the dominant force on the business landscape.

Fishing is also a major source of income on the Island.