PETALING JAYA: Nightclub owners are in dread of more raids on their premises following a statement by former police chief Musa Hassan that some nightclubs in Kuala Lumpur supply recreational drugs to patrons under protection of rogue authorities.
David Gurupatham, the co-founder of trade group Industries Unite, said Musa’s comments may lead to increased raids on legitimate nightclubs.
He called for enforcement agencies to hold dialogues with owners of legitimate nightclubs to jointly eradicate the problem.
“A few bad apples should not be allowed to tarnish the good reputation of the majority of clubs that comply with the law,” he said.
On Thursday, Musa, the former inspector-general of police, said he would tip off Bukit Aman about at least 15 nightclubs in Kuala Lumpur supplying recreational drugs to patrons while paying certain enforcement officers to close their eyes.
He also claimed the nightclubs provided guest relation officers and prostitutes from foreign countries who entered Malaysia using social visit passes.
Jeremy Lim, vice-president of the Restaurant and Bistro Owners Association, said Musa should be clear with his allegations and provide evidence.
“He should not just release a blanket statement as it will affect legitimate businesses’ reputations,” Lim told FMT.
“It’s better to let the police investigate because having a list doesn’t mean the names on the list are true. So it’s best for him to work with the police.”
Lim said the association’s members take the health and safety of their patrons and employees seriously, as a drug-free environment was critical for guests and employees to be safe.
Nightclubs were the last to be allowed to resume their operations after the country shifted from the Covid-19 pandemic to the transition to endemic phase. The businesses were reopened on May 15 after being forced to close for more than two years.
The nightclub business provides jobs for about 150,000 to 250,000 people and is a key part of the tourism industry. - FMT
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