GEORGE TOWN: The state government's inaction in shutting down illegal entertainment outlets in the state has copntributed to students getting involved in social problems.
State opposition leader Datuk Jahara Hamid revealed there were 842 outlets operating without licences with the state having no intention of legalising any of them.
She said state Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow had recently revealed that there were 536 family entertainment outlets operating without licences, 138 karaoke centres, 63 snooker centres and 105 massage outlets between 2008 until now.
"Most of these premises are operating as a front and I believe they are also doing other illegal activities there. Some might be illegal gambling, while others might resort to prostitution.
"This is serious because even students are becoming victims. Why is the Penang government not taking stern action to close them down?" she asked at the sideline of the state legislative assembly sitting today.
Jahara then pointed out that the state government had ignored police's advice and approved operating licences for entertainment outlets since 2008.
She said both the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) had issued a total of 121 licences to such outlets.
They included 84 licences for family entertainment outlets, 34 for karaoke centres, two for snooker centres and one massage centre.
"The reason they gave for approving the licences was based on the overall views from other departments involved in the decision process. This is unacceptable.
"Police have the expertise and reasoning for rejecting the applications by these operators. They must take police's advise, but instead they went on and gave the licences," she added.
She said the state government had failed to listen to the relevant authorities and instead defended the issuance of the licences because there was no objections from residents staying nearby.