Over 300 operators may lose millions of ringgit following the Kedah government’s ban on entertainment centres during Ramadan in accordance with Entertainment and Places of Entertainment Enactment which existed since 1997.

Kedah Chinese Assembly Hall president Cheng Lai Hock said this is because they still have to pay employee salary and building rental although they could not operate.

He said as a result of the decision, operators who could not afford to continue would have to retrench more than 6,000 employees.

“The entertainment centre operators are shocked by the Kedah state government decision and are not prepared to face the potential losses.

“We will send a memorandum to Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak soon asking for flexibility so that they can carry on business as usual,” he told reporters in Alor Setar.

Meanwhile, former Kedah mufti Hasbullah Abdul Halim said the state government decision was necessary to stop Muslims from patronising such places during the fasting month.

“Muslims don’t need to visit entertainment centres to relieve pressure at the workplace as they can find other sources of entertainment like being with their families to avoid vice.

“Forbidding Muslims are not only based on the law but they should realise that Allah clearly prohibits Muslims from committing vice,” he said when asked to comment on the issue.

- Bernama