The Kedah government will hold a meeting with operators of entertainment centres in the state to find the best mechanism to resolve the issue on the order for them to close operation during the fasting month.

penang kedah timber logging azizan abdul razak 310708 03Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak said the decision was made following his meeting with representatives from the Kedah Chinese Assembly Hall today.

"The meeting will either be held tomorrow or the following day and instruction has also been given to the state secretary to resolve the matter.

"Possibly, they may be allowed to operate as usual, but certain conditions will be imposed, like imposing a ban on Muslims from entering the entertainment centres," he told reporters after receiving a memorandum from the Entertainment Operators Coordinating Committee in Mentaloon, Alor Setar today.

6,000 jobs at stake

Meanwhile, Kedah Chinese Assembly Hall president, Cheng Lai Hock, thanked the state government for agreeing to discuss the matter for the sake of more than 6,000 workers who would be laid off if the entertainment centres were not allowed to operate during Ramadan.

"We have submitted a memorandum containing an appeal for the operators of the entertainment outlets to continue to operate during Ramadan and they (operators) have agreed to accept whatever conditions set by the state government, including to bar Muslims from entering," he added.

Cheng was accompanied by the Kedah Chinese Assembly Hall adviser, William Chek Lin Kwai, and committee members, Tan Son Lee and Oon Pheng Khoon.

- Bernama