KUCHING: Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chief Lo Khere Chiang has rebuked DAP state chairman Chong Chieng Jen over a press statement on alleged abuse of entertainment licences under MPP’s jurisdiction.
According to Lo, MPP takes the issuance of entertainment licences very seriously, adding that spot checks are conducted periodically to ensure that an outlet meets the criteria and stringent requirements of the council.
“This is what I do not like about him (Chong) and DAP.
They have no basis to their allegations,” Lo, who is also Batu Kitang assemblyman, told a press conference at his service centre on Saturday.
He said Chong’s statement in fact gives the public a wrong perception of the council.
Lo clarified that MPP has so far only issued 38 entertainment licences under its jurisdiction to the following types of outlet: karaoke (25), cybercafe (one), billiard or snooker (7) and in-door amusement centre (5).
For the in-door amusement centre, Lo admits that some of the outlets do have the ‘fish machines’ which he emphasised are not for gambling purposes.
“How can there be any gambling activities when these ‘fish machines’ are put out in an open environment (shopping mall)?” he posed.
Lo also hoped that Chong – who is also Kota Sentosa assemblyman and Bandar Kuching MP – come forward and work together with MPP to solve the issue of illegal gambling proactively instead of pointing fingers at him and MPP.
On another note, he added that local councils have no arbitrary right to withhold or reject the issuing of an entertainment licence to any applicant who meets the criteria and requirements to run an entertainment outlet.
He also said that if an entertainment licence is abused for illegal gambling activities, police should be the ones who act as the council is not enacted or equipped to conduct raids.
“Chong must understand, these illegal gambling outlets involve underground activities.
We (council) need the police to conduct raids and make arrests.
It is a dangerous job for MPP officers who do not even have a ‘stick’ to defend themselves,” he added
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