Lo (centre) with Ahmad on his right and other council staff during the press conference.
Its chairman Lo Khere Chiang said MPP has revoked four ‘Family Amusement Entertainment Licences’ after it was found that the licence holders were using their premises illegally as gambling centres.
“Such activities (fish machines) are not worse in MPP (areas), but it is bad enough because it has attracted negative sentiments from the ground and the public.
“So we (MPP) want to address the issue once and for all to put a stop to this (fish machine activity),” Lo told a press conference yesterday.
Earlier, Lo chaired a special full council meeting and passed a motion to ban the operation of fish machine businesses within MPP’s area of jurisdiction.
Lo admitted the challenging task to eradicate such activities, but asserted that the council would work closely with the police to arrest anyone found disobeying the law by promoting illegal gambling.
According to him, the council no longer issues any Family Amusement Entertainment Licence.
“If such licences are found in any premises, they are fraudulent and I implore these operators to take down these fake licences as forgery and fraud are actions that can be heavily sentenced,” Lo said.
He thanked state CID chief Datuk Dev Kumar and Padawan district police chief Supt Aidil Bolhassan for the positive and relentless efforts in conducting raids to eradicate fish machine activities in Kuching.
“I appeal to the police to carry out more raids and close down all operations involving fish machine activities within MPP’s area of jurisdiction,” Lo said.
Lo, who is also Batu Kitang assemblyman, also called on the DAP as well as Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen to stop making “negative statements” on illegal gambling and creating misunderstanding among MPP, the police and himself.
He added that Chong should remember that Penang, a DAP stronghold, has until today not taken any action to close down fish machines outlets in the state.
Lo stressed that he has taken the pioneer step to close down all fish machines outlets in MPP areas.
“Chong is blowing hot air and only come and pick on me, making negative statements and creating misunderstanding among MPP, the police and me. This is what DAP and Chong are fond of doing,” Lo said, pointing out that MPP and police have a good working relationship.
He further said that if Chong has the evidence against the fish machines operators, he (Chong) should have raised the matter in Parliament and informed the police in Bukit Aman to close down the whole fish machine industry in the country.
MPP deputy chairman Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim also attended the press conference.
No comments:
Post a Comment