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You only put all entertainment outlets in a red light district

The idea to locate all new and old entertainment outlets to a centralised district or place in the city or town in KL is innovative. But in reality it has its constraints and obstacles, and objections by people from the business circles and residents in the neighbourhood are aplenty.

These are a few constraints to take note of:

There should be a land bank available to site all the new outlets and, besides, it is not feasible as it is too costly to relocate existing ones especially with established clienteles.

The location should not be too far from the city or town.

It should be set-up as a self-contained place or a district.

The district should be connected by good roads, to and from the nearest city or town, if it is to be located in a suburban place.

Also, there should be a police station, fire station and a healthcare clinic, to provide the essential public services needed.

And so on and so forth.

The people in the business circles will certainly protest strongly against the proposal to set up a centralised district for operations of entertainment businesses, even if it should start off in Kuala Lumpur.

As it is they are quite comfortable where they are now, and moreover some of them have already settled down in the area for umpteen years.

Usually, the local councils or municipalities of cities and towns in Europe, UK and in the Asia Pacific regions they have to locate entertainment outlets in a restricted zone away from the public because inside the district there are many ‘live sex shows’ for adults’ viewing only and places where adults could go to see a striptease show or for a sensual massage or be at a girlie topless bar for a drink or perhaps venture into something intimate, etc, etc.

In brief, places like these are referred to as a red light district. And, so the question is why does the Malaysian government want to chuck all existing none hanky-panky entertainment outlets in KL or in the Bangsar area to a corner - when there is not even a girlie bar in sight in these outlets?

And not just talk for talking’s sake, like for instance to locate all new outlets in a restricted zone, it is out of the question. Exactly, there is no rationale. Honestly speaking, you see there is nothing to see here in KL or in Bangsar or at all in the country.

And, of course, there is no hanky-panky business around these places. If anyone is caught by any enforcement officers from the religious department, the outlet or outlets will be in trouble for breaking the council or municipal rules and laws, as these activities are deemed illegal and so are prohibited by laws in the country.

Now, if they were to kick-start the idea to put it (the proposal) to work, then they need to convert or change the land title for these existing entertainment outlets in Jalan Bukit Bintang or in a Bangsar area into a red light district. Thereafter, this will automatically create a zone for ‘adults only’, who are at least 18 years old.

Well, there are ‘red tape’ to get all the necessary approvals and also new plans too need to be drawn up. These take a lot of time and money to start up the project and the stumbling block is when Malaysia is strictly against importing ‘Western’ cultures.

By the way, these girlie type entertainment outlets, if sited in close proximity or adjacent to a homestead, then residents living along the perimeters would find the cheers, music and applause rather noisy, disturbing and unbearable. Surely they will object the plan to turn the place into a red light district.

‘Softwares’ to consider

Now, here are the ‘softwares’ to consider before putting all entertainment outlets in one and turn into a red light district.

To make the business viable, lucrative and most importantly buoyant and sustainable, the place should have more to offer to tourists, visitors and customers (clienteles) than just only a place or an outlet for drinking, dancing and singing. If that is the case then it will soon lose its crowd-pulling forces and the popularity as well. The business will begin to dwindle and soon close down.

If you take a look at Patpong in Bangkok, Rossebuurt in Amsterdam, Holland and red light districts in Denmark and other entertainment night spots like Pigalle in Paris, Sydney, Melbourne, Geylang in Singapore, Mongkok in Hong Kong, Manila, Italy, Sweden and elsewhere, you will know why businesses there is bullish, though sited at a corner in the city. Exactly. These are all located inside a red light district.

We don’t have that kind of crowd-puller or the type of attractions that bring in the crowds to come sit down and relax over a drink or two in our entertainment outlets. By the way, it will certainly be a pipe dream or even think to open up a red light district here when there are fast and strict rules and laws against running such operations in the country.

That is why competition in the Klang Valley (KL and Bangsar) is “fierce” and so are demands from audience and clienteles today. Naturally, there are patrons who are constantly looking forward to see more of women performers, dancers and, of course, scantily dressed women guest relations officers (GROs) sitting at the tables to drink with them.

Furthermore, do not forget that there are others who like a good massage to relax and to loosen up after a hard day tour-sightseeing around the country.

So, they will go looking for a nearby massage parlour or one that is within walking distance. And that means the local authority of the city or town should allow businessman to open massage parlours as well in the vicinity and to issue them with relevant operating licences, etc, etc.

In fact, the government could relax the rules and laws to allow the use of a place in the city or town (to cut costs and save time) as a restricted zone strictly confined for operations of adult entertainments for adults only, that is to patrons who are 18 years old and older.

For your information, there are already many sex shops operating in busy Orchard Road in Singapore for several years now. Of course, there are other similar shops scattered around the Lion City selling sex toys and other paraphernalia. These businesses are licensed and are legal.

Yes. All these sex shops are not at all offensive as only people who are inquisitive, curious would walk inside to take a look and there are some prople who would make purchases for some items from the shops.

Just like any other shops

You see, looking from inside out from the shop the business operations is just like any other shops in the area. So, there is nothing to take offence.

And further away from Orchard Road, that is when you are in Geylang, you can see many women street walkers, walking down Geylang trying to seduce any man who passes by.

She will ask the man discreetly and if both parties are game, they will then proceed to the next step of action.

The bottomline is sex workers are plying their ‘trade’ with peace and order in Singapore legally, already these years. Also, there was nothing untoward occurred in Singapore for having opened a small enclave in Geylang for a red light district.

To cut a long story short, you see, the local government in Malaysia is committed by strict and fast rules and so their hands are tied and, thus can only give approvals to operate none-girlie entertainment outlets.

These business men in Malaysia will soon close shop and pack up and go, at times when life is hard, and especially when there is little attractions and choices to draw in the crowds.

Yes. Tourists too will then go to other places like Hanoi in Vietnam, Patpong in Bangkok, Bali, Geylang in Singapore, Manila, ShenZhen in China, Mongkok in Hong Kong, Pigalle in Paris, Rossebuurt in Amsterdam, Holland, red light districts in Denmark and other places that they know of, that have much more to offer and to look out what they are searching for.

Say what you like. Yes. Malaysia has very strict religious obligations and commitments to abide by businessmen at large. So, those who had gone out to deal in liquor and women GROs entertaining male customers or dancers wearing scantily dresses, they will be given a warrant to close down the shop if caught by enforcement officers who go on their rounds periodically to carry out random checks.

Actually, if the local government succeeded setting up a centralised district by turning existing entertainment outlets say in KL, when there is no girlie street or a red light district serving the public in the city or town proper - what happens then is the place will get too congested and business will get more aggressive when everyone in the business is fighting for survival. And, as a result, some outlets will eventually have to close shop due to lost businesses.

However, there is another drawback. Apparently, there is also a possibility for the local government to say that they have received letters of complaints from nearby residents about the outlets, or they will also say that the operator has gone overboard running the business against the laws or what is allowed for in the business licence, so they could use these complaints as an excuse to close down the shop.

This action will dissuade potential businessmen from starting up the same type of business in the city or town in Malaysia, in future.

Actually, it is best to leave everything as it has been all these years and to do not again, to dream of putting all  entertainment outlets together, especially in a corner.

There you go. Malaysia has far too many laws that instil fears and risks to businessmen to start up entertainment businesses here simply because they may not be given the necessary operating licences for this or for that, to operate the business for the long term.

Well, this is addressed to the relevant government body who had come out with the ‘bright’ idea to round up all existing entertainment outlets in KL or Bangsar or anywhere at all, to put them in one location, to abort the idea.

Do sit down to see to it that it is not feasible, nor practical to do it in Malaysia.


LAU BING is a community activist and writer in Subang Jaya.

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