KL Net centres, too, will need licence to operate
Business premises that offer Internet services will soon need to obtain licences under a new by-law introduced by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), designed to streamline and regulate all Internet centres.
According to Kuala Lumpur city mayor Kamaruzzaman Shariff, currently only Internet cafes require a licence as they are registered under the food premises by-laws as restaurants whereas business premises that offer Internet services do not require one.
However, upon implementation of this new law, Internet centres that do not offer food or are "stand-alone Internet centres", as Kamaruzzaman termed them, will be required to abide by the same regulations imposed on the Internet cafes.
DBKL has identified about 250 such "stand-alone Internet centres" and 103 licensed cyber-cafes in the Federal Territory.
The regulations stipulate, among others, that pornography, gambling, drug abuse, weapons and the sale of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes will not be allowed on the premises of Internet centres.
"The new law will also stipulate that customers (of the Internet centres) under the age of 18 can only stay on the premises until 10pm," Kamaruzzaman said, adding that such businesses have to close by 1am.
Community centres
According to Kuala Lumpur city mayor Kamaruzzaman Shariff, currently only Internet cafes require a licence as they are registered under the food premises by-laws as restaurants whereas business premises that offer Internet services do not require one.
However, upon implementation of this new law, Internet centres that do not offer food or are "stand-alone Internet centres", as Kamaruzzaman termed them, will be required to abide by the same regulations imposed on the Internet cafes.
DBKL has identified about 250 such "stand-alone Internet centres" and 103 licensed cyber-cafes in the Federal Territory.
The regulations stipulate, among others, that pornography, gambling, drug abuse, weapons and the sale of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes will not be allowed on the premises of Internet centres.
"The new law will also stipulate that customers (of the Internet centres) under the age of 18 can only stay on the premises until 10pm," Kamaruzzaman said, adding that such businesses have to close by 1am.
Community centres
At the meet-the-press session today, the mayor also announced that DBKL is constructing seven community centres in various areas in Kuala Lumpur this year.
The community centres are located in Kepong, Sri Petaling, Jinjang, Sungai Besi, Desa Pandan, Taman Maluri and Gombak. The entire project will cost about RM20.6 million and is due to be completed by year-end.
Such centres, apart from functioning as recreational places, serve as a community hub that will enhance the community's sense of belonging, he explained.
The centres will also have sport facilities such as badminton halls and swimming pools as well as social facilities such as meeting rooms and a special area for senior citizens.
According to DBKL's economic planning and social development department, the location of a community centre is chosen based on the size of the population and the availability of public amenities in the area. An official said 17 community centres are planned for next year.
