KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 — The operation hours of outlets in Jalan Tun Razak’s TREC entertainment zone which was previously given special permission to operate until 5am will now be reviewed, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said today.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Mhd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz said today that the operation hours would be revised following recent police advice, and the matter would be discussed with Federal Territories minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor.
“Now we are looking to shorten the operation hours following advice by the police,” he said after a media briefing on the preparations for the Federal Territories Day celebration.
Mhd Amin was asked to comment on an advisory by the United States embassy here warning American citizens to avoid visiting popular nightspot The Beach Club in Jalan P. Ramlee due to “coordinated drink-spiking” cases targeting foreign nationals.
Mhd Amin said he could not confirm if the police directive was linked to the US embassy’s advisory, but said DBKL was working closely with the police on the issue since it has information of such unlawful activities.
“We received a letter from the IGP asking us to review the operation hours and we will abide by it,” he said.
The police have advised that such outlets be closed at 1am, but it is understood that other authorities said there is no problem for them to operate until 3am.
“Since it was a Cabinet decision to allow the 5am operation hours, now we need to prepare a Cabinet paper to revise it,” the mayor said.
Mhd Amin said all designated entertainment areas such as Jalan P. Ramlee, Changkat Bukit Bintang and Sri Hartamas are allowed to operate until 3am, while those located out of the designated zone are allowed to operate only until 1am.
He also said that the DBKL has stopped issuing entertainment permits for outlets that wish to apply to operate in residential areas.
“Recently there was an application to operate an entertainment outlet in Taman Tun Dr Ismail and we rejected it,” he said.
“We are also looking to relocate entertainment outlets operating in housing areas” he said.
Mhd Amin said there have been complaints raised in Taman Tun Dr Ismail and Bangsar areas.
“These complaints were discussed in the entertainment licensing committee and I will be briefed about it soon,” he said.
