NO RESPITE! MPSJ to continue assault on illegal cybercafes and DVD outlets

Thursday, 5 March 2009

NO RESPITE! MPSJ to continue assault on illegal cybercafes and DVD outlets

Adnan (centre) looking through the pile of confiscated DVDs. On his right is Bukit Puchong police station head Chief Inspector Basri Sagoni. Looking on is MPSJ enforcement director Mohd Zulkurnain B. Che Ali

NO RESPITE! That's the clear and very direct message from MPSJ president Dato' Adnan Md Ikshan on illegal cybercafes and DVD outlets in the municipality.

Adnan considers such activity as a menace to society, especially the youth who are frequently found patronising illegal cybercafes which run gambling activities.

"Illegal cybercafes are being patronised by the old and young. Our major concern is the involvement of youth in such places."

"Many of these outlets either offer gambling programmes in their computer or access to online gambling on the world wide web," he said to reporters after witnessing the disposal of computers and DVDs confiscated from illegal cybercafes and DVD outlets.

At the event, 10,257 pieces of DVDs and VCDs worth RM82,000 and 2,276 gambling machines worth RM600,00 were destroyed.

Adnan said some illegal cybercafe operators even made their patrons pay as high as RM1,000 as a deposit before allowing them to gamble online.

The first two months of this year saw 58 raids on cybercafes, yielding the confiscation of 738 machines.

Adnan said 309 raids were carried out last year with 3,920 machines confiscated.

Up till February this year, 23 raids have been carried out illegal DVD outlets, netting 13,829 DVDs and VCDs.

Last year, 74 raids were carried out and 15,854 DVDs and VCDs were confiscated, according to Adnan.

The items were confiscated under Section 28 (1) of the MPSJ Cybercafe Bylaws 2007.

Adnan urged the public to join hands with the council to weed such outlets out.

"Tell us if you know of such outlets operating in your neighbourhood. We will act on it immediately."

"It's our joint responsible to curb this menace," he said.

On illegal buntings and banners, Adnan said the public should shun the products and services advertised.

"No response from the public means there's no business for these people. As such, when there's no business, they won't continue to put up these material," he said.