KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar’s suggestion for entertainment outlets to be centralised for security purposes has found backing from a senior City Hall (DBKL) official.

Datuk Ibrahim Yusoff, DBKL’s licensing and petty traders management department director, said it would be easier to control and monitor such outlets from a centralised location but foresaw challenges in its implementation.

“It’s a good idea, but sometimes if the operators go to one location, there’s no space for them. Those doing business want an open market, they don’t want competition; if there are too many entertainment outlets, there will be competition and profits will go down,” he told Malay Mail Online when contacted this week.

The IGP’s idea to have one central entertainment hub came following the reportedly first attack by terror group Islamic State on Malaysian soil at the Movida bar in Puchong, Selangor that saw eight people hurt.

Khalid had also cautioned entertainment outlets that operating into the wee hours of the morning when security is lax would make them easier targets for attacks.

But entertainment outlets is just an umbrella term and covers a wide spectrum of businesses. Even Ibrahim said City Hall has three types of licences for such outlets which are classified based on location.

Those near residential areas are allowed to open until midnight while those in commercial areas such as Publika in Taman Sri Hartamas, Jalan Telawi in Bangsar and Jalan Doraisamy are allowed to open till 3am.

The popular Zouk nightclub at the TREC entertainment hub along Jalan Tun Razak is the only one to fall under the 5am category, Ibrahim said. He explained that this is because the tourist attraction is easily accessible by the main road and its location away from residential areas, among several reasons.

Does it make business sense?

However, business owners were not too enamoured with the IGP’s idea. Bar owner Deepak Gill said the proposal is not a “workable” and would not make “business sense” for shop operators.

“If all in one place, you are talking about inconveniencing business owners and customers. Because you don’t know the location, how far it is.

“The other thing is overhead, rental costs, so that’s what most food and beverages operators look out for,” the owner of the Locker and Loft bar told Malay Mail Online.

While pointing out that attackers may choose to attack anything including government facilities or infrastructure instead of just clubs or bars, he also said that a centralised location for entertainment outlets would be at greater danger during an attack.

“To me, that is even more dangerous, can cause more damage, more casualties as well,” said Deepak.

Hansjeet Gill, Tiki Taka restaurant and bar owner, said having centralised locations for entertainment outlets may prove difficult to implement as there may be a lack of available shoplots and may also cause greater traffic strain to those living near the entertainment hub.

“It’s a bit hard for everyone to just go to one area—people in Damansara Heights, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Damansara Uptown and Bandar Utama, it’s a bit tough to ask all of them to go to just this one location,” he said, adding that he believes the current arrangement works best.

While noting that security would be enhanced if the police carried out more patrols, Hansjeet also said the public has to be watchful.

He said he has the police on speed dial and his staff have been asked to call the nearest police station if they detect suspicious activities.

Geoff Siddle, the owner of a chain of family restaurants and neighbourhood pubs called Sid’s Pubs, questioned what would be included under the “ambiguous” category of “entertainment outlet”.

He also said it would be unfair to ask those who have spent money establishing themselves in a location or buying their business premises to move to a centralised location, but said it could be feasible for new business operators.

Is it the right solution?

In light of the Puchong attack, clubgoers and pub patrons approached by Malay Mail Online said they could see where the IGP was coming from, but had reservations as to its effectiveness.

“If it’s public knowledge that clubs and bars are designated to a single spot, it just may allow for easier attacks. I also think people may think twice about going to one spot where they can be regulated and monitored more than usual. I’m not convinced it is the right solution,” Vilashini Somiah, 30, said.

She noted that KL’s clubs have been doing a decent job in ensuring security by hiring bouncers and security guards and suggested that more “may take away from the carefree spirit of clubbing in general”.

The post-graduate student admitted to being slightly spooked by the June 28 Movida grenade attack but said she would not stop patronising clubs or pubs. Vilashini said she will only be more cautious when picking which outlet to visit.

Another clubgoer who only wanted to be known as Crystal said she will be more on guard after the Movida attack and agreed that additional security measures at bars and clubs would help put her mind at rest.

But she also questioned the readiness of the police in tackling terrorism.

“I don’t believe our policemen are ready to deal with terror attacks and I don’t think it’s just bars or clubs that are at the risk of terror attacks.

“If there were more of them patrolling the streets and areas, I’d feel reassured that I’m being protected but goes back to my last answer, how trained and equipped are they to handle it?” said the 25-year-old who works in the marketing industry.

Resource : The Malay Mail Online