Thursday July 12, 2012

Proliferation of spas and massage parlours due to lack of enforcement

By STUART MICHAEL
metro@thestar.com.my

SELANGOR has not issued any new licences for spas or massage parlours since 2006 but the lack of enforcement has enabled more centres to mushroom, said Local Government, Study and Research committee chairman Ronnie Liu.

He said operators wanting to open these centres had to apply for licences from the respective local councils, get approval from the Fire and Rescue Department, District Health Department and the police.

“Only then will the council consider the application.

“In fact, we have been closing down massage centres and spas and not issuing licences for new ones to be set up,” he said at the Selangor state assembly recently.

Liu said there are 557 spas/massage centres and 760 entertainment outlets in the state.

Makeshift premises: A filepic of Subang Jaya Municipal Council enforcement officers tearing down the blinds that divide an illegal massage parlour. Liu says they have not been issuing licences for new massage centres.

The breakdown is as follows:

·Shah Alam City Council (32 spas and 39 entertainment outlets)

·Petaling Jaya City Council (77 spas and 218 entertainment outlets),

·Klang Municipal Council (83 spas and 89 entertainment outlets,

·Ampang Jaya City Council (54 spas and 96 entertainment outlets,

·Subang Jaya City Council (69 spas and and 154 entertainment outlets,

·Selayang Municipal Council (80 spas and 61 entertainment outlets,

·Kajang Municipal Council (118 spas and 35 entertainment centres),

·Kuala Selangor District Council (eight spas and 13 entertainment outlets),

·Hulu Selangor District Council (12 spas and 11 entertainment outlets,

·Kuala Langat District Council (13 spas and 23 entertainment outlets,

·Sabak Bernam District Council (11 spas and 21 entertainment outlets.

Liu said this in response to a question posed by Datuk Warno Dogol (BN-Sabak) on foreigners from China, Thailand and Indo-nesia using massages centres for prostitution.

Liu said the state was doing its best to ensure enforcement and checks on massage centres were carried out, together with the police and Immigration Depart-ment.

Datuk Mohd Shamsudin Lias (BN-Sungai Burong) wanted to know why there were many budget hotels when many reports linked these to illegal activities.

Liu said budget hotels in small towns were a necessity to draw tourists with a low budget.

“Not all budget hotels are sites for illegal activities,” he said.