FOREIGNERS in Indonesia should not worry about getting prosecuted for potentially breaching the country’s new criminal code that penalises sex outside of marriage, a minister said.
Police will only take action if there is an official complaint made by direct family members such as parents, children or spouses, said Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly.
“So, if people from Australia want to go on a holiday in Bali, and they want to stay in the same room whatsoever, that is their personal matter,” Laoly told reporters. “Unless, there’s a complaint made by their parents in Australia which is not their culture.”
The world’s largest Muslim-majority nation is trying to allay fears among expatriates and tourists after the passage of the new criminal code on Tuesday that critics say could hurt foreign investment and tourism revenue.
The legislation applies to everyone in the country, including tourists and expatriates, and will only take effect over a three-year transition period. — Bloomberg
