It is common practice that a pub owner who has received summonses for violating their operating licence, and continue to commit these offences, should risk losing their licence. But in Selangor, the law is reversed. The state government directs the pubs to close for no reason and then considers an appeal.

On the other hand, operators of entertainment outlets which flouted the law under the very noses of MPPJ (Petaling Jaya Municipal Council) are still operating. They included outlets which operate until 7am the next morning. Brawls, substance abuse and even murder are the norm. So, why the discrimination, MPPJ?

Outlets such as these and other unlicenced outlets (snooker parlours with gambling facilities and other vice dens) continue to operate despite being frequented by council officers and even the police.

Nothing has been done to curb these illegal operators. Instead, the state government targets the pubs.

There are notices which appeared in the local dailies that certain entertainment outlet operators are applying to the district office in Subang Jaya for licences to operate pubs within the very area where more than 30 pubs operate, most of which, have been given the directive to shut down. So what's going o­n here?

Operators of entertainment outlets within the Federal Territory should praise the move taken by the Datuk Bandar (Kuala Lumpur mayor) in freezing applications for new licences for entertainment.

The wise Datuk Bandar has further extended operating hours of entertainment outlets within its jurisdiction to allow them to survive the o­ngoing economic uncertainties created by the Iraqi war. Operators in the capital would certainly agree that such a move would augur well for effective enforcement to weed out the bad hats and the illegal operators in the industry. Selangor Menteri Besar Mohd Khir Toyo should learn from this far-sighted man o­n the methods employed.

With the Iraqi crisis is drawing to a close, and other crises waiting in store, who are we to criticise the superpowers o­n their unfairness in bullying smaller nations when the government has a chief minister who mimics the very attitude that we abhor.

Perhaps the federal government ought to step in and rectify the abuse by the powers-that-be in Selangor - and restore some law and order.