In a 2-day operation, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) raided 118 entertainment hubs across the country.
Only 15 of those entertainment premises carry valid operation licenses, and nearly 400 individuals were arrested during the massive operation.
PDRM raided 118 entertainment outlets nationwide; only 15 had valid licenses to operate
In an official statement by PDRM this morning (10 November), Commissioner Datuk M. Kumar A/L S. Muthuvelu, the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), said the operations took place on Friday and Saturday (7 & 8 November), and revealed that 103 of those raided premises did not carry valid operation licenses.
“The police have also arrested a total of 398 people, consisting of 5 premises owners, 4 premises managers, 150 employees, 112 customers and 128 foreign customer servers or customer service girls (GROs).”
The arrested individuals are as young as 19, with the oldest being 55.
The operations, known as Op Noda, were carried out in collaboration with local authorities and the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) in the relevant state.
Of the total arrested individuals, 87 people are locals, namely 76 men and 11 women, while the other 311 are foreigners, namely 151 men and 160 women.
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A large amount of cash and various entertainment equipment were also seized, and all of those arrested individuals were taken to the nearby district police headquarters for documentation and further investigation.
The case is being investigated under Section 76 of the Excise Act 1976 and Section 15(1)(C), Section (6)(1)(C) and Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63, as well as Regulation 39(B) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 and the Entertainment Enactment and Entertainment Ordinance of the state where the individual was arrested.
For Section 76 of the Excise Act 1976, which is selling liquor without a valid license, those who are found guilty may face a fine of up to RM50,000. Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which highlights those who stay in the country without a valid permit, provides a prison sentence of up to 5 years and a fine of up to RM10,000.
