Outlets In Other Countries Follow Rules Too Siti Kasim Told

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Entertainment outlets in Kuala Lumpur have been told to abide by the closing hours stated in their licence starting Jan 1 or face action. (AFP pic)KUALA LUMPUR: Khalid Samad today defended the move to have entertainment outlets in the city abide by the closing hours stipulated in their licences, despite brickbats, including from a lawyer-activist
The Federal Territories minister said that entertainment outlets in other countries, including the United Kingdom, were required to abide by similar regulations
“They don’t operate as they like. There are no countries in the world that do not set any regulations and allow businesses to do as they please,” he said at an event here
The Shah Alam MP was asked to respond to Siti Kasim who had on Friday lashed out at Khalid over the announcement that entertainment outlets in the city would have to abide by the 1am closing time stated in their licences beginning next year
In a Facebook post, she said the people were not children to be told where they could and could not go after 1am
Siti said this in response to Khalid’s statement  that there were many entertainment outlets in the city which were supposed to close by 1am but remained open as late as 5am
On Thursday, Khalid said entertainment outlets in the city would have to abide by the closing hours stated in their licences starting Jan 1 or face action, in a move to enhance family time
He also said that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) would also review the operating hours of a few outlets that had been given special permission to open until 5am to cater to tourists but which had abused that privilege by allowing locals in
Today, Khalid said corruption had seen authorities allow some operators to flout the rules and operate beyond the stipulated time
But from next year, he said, authorities would be more strict
“So if your licence allows you to operate till 1am, then you’re allowed to operate up to 1am. But if your licence allows you to operate till 3am, then it’s 3am. We are just adhering to the licence.” -FMT

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