PAS govt will not shut down Kuala Terengganu’s only cinema centre

KUALA TERENGGANU: Movie lovers here can rejoice as the new PAS-led government has no plans to shut down the city’s sole cinema centre.

State tourism, culture and information technology executive committee chairman Ariffin Deraman gave his assurance that it would be business as usual at the cinema.

“I guarantee the state government will not shut down the cinema and the operators will not have a problem – don’t worry,” he said when met at his office in Wisma Darul Iman here on Thursday.

Kuala Terengganu's only cinema is located at PB Sentral and operated by Lotus Five Star Cinemas.

The cinema centre began operations in March last year and has a total of 11 halls.

The Alur Limbat assemblyman admitted that he had criticised cinema operations in the past but added that he merely wanted their showtimes to be reviewed, and not for them to be shut down.

He claimed that his speech in the State Assembly seating around Ramadan last year was taken out of context.

“It was reported as though I had wanted for the cinema to be closed but actually, I just wanted them to adjust their showtimes, particularly screenings during Maghrib (evening prayers) because we were observing Ramadan then,” he said.

He also wanted cinemas to review late-night screenings where the last show would end at around 1am.

“I don’t think this is wise as it could encourage social ills,” he said.

He said cinema operations will continue as they are and there will be no problems as long as guidelines are followed.

“I will personally go and watch a movie there. No issues,” he said.

Kuala Terengganu did not have a cinema for more than 20 years and the city's LFS cinema is one of only two cinema centres in the whole state of Terengganu.

The other is located in Kemaman.