Snooker outlet raided again BY IAN MCINTYRE
KOTA BARU: An 80-member enforcement unit from the municipal council here raided a snooker parlour run by the Kelantan Snooker and Billiard Association and seized equipment from 21 tables yesterday. It is the second time in 12 months that the council acted against the parlour operator. The council officers barred pressmen from entering the parlour, located in a major shopping complex, while they carted away items and recorded the names and identity card numbers of employees and 20 teenage patrons. The manager Aliza Hassan, 26, was not present. Council enforcement unit head Ramly Hussein said the parlour did not have an operating licence and continued to run despite stern warnings. The offence is listed under the Entertainment Enactment, under which the maximum penalty is a RM10,000 fine and seizure of assets, he said. Ramly said the council's legal unit would take the matter to court. State Local Government committee chairman Takiyuddin Hassan said he was not informed of the raid but added that it was probably carried out due to continued violation of the council's by-laws. He urged the association to be patient while the state sorted out the issue. Takiyuddin said Kelantan planned to legalise snooker premises as recreational sports outlets by next year. At present, they are considered as entertainment joints. Association secretary Hu Phang Chiau slammed the council, saying it had acted roughly. Hu said the parlour operated as a sports association centre and was registered with the state youth and sports department under the Sporting Act. "It is a centre similar to those of other sports associations which hold basketball or volleyball matches. We are a sports entity but they were impatient and raided us." Hu said the parlour was open only to its 600 members. The association, he added, would discuss with its lawyers whether legal action could be initiated. //Thestar 15 Dec ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/ZP59lB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/perakan/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
