Metro

Monday November 3, 2008

MPK won’t tolerate gambling and prostitution dens

By ROSLINA MOHAMAD


KUANTAN: The Kuantan Municipal Council (MPK) will not hesitate to revoke the licences of massage parlours providing sexual services and cybercafes used as gambling dens.

This was a unanimous decision made during its full council meeting here recently after its president Datuk Azizan Ahmad suggested that firm action be taken against such errant operators.

He said such operators should not be compounded or have their licences suspended but be given the maximum penalty of having their permits revoked.

“There is a need to act quickly on the matter.

“We have rules and regulations. If they conduct activities other than those listed in their licences, such as gambling and prostitution, we should cancel the licences,” Azizan said.

His suggestion saw consensus from the councillors.

The issue was among the matters raised during the previous meeting and some councillors had urged stern action against the unscrupulous operators.

MPK secretary Mohamad Zainuddin Idris, in presenting feedback on the matter, said such premises were located in Gebeng, Air Putih and Jalan Beserah.

On an unrelated matter, Azizan agreed to a proposal by councillor Mohamed Sufian Awang that a RM5,000 annual allocation for each councillor to fund maintenance works in their zones be instead utilised for community activities.

He added that MPK would come up with a mechanism on how councillors could make claims for this. Mohamed Sufian argued that the amount was too small for maintenance works.

“Even a public toilet now costs RM36,000,” he said.

He also urged the police, the state Islamic Affairs Department and related agencies to take action against transvestites involved in immoral activities.

In response, Kuantan OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Jasmani Yusof said that some had been arrested and prosecuted in court but many of them were repeat offenders.

He added that a different approach might be introduced to help them lead a normal life.

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story