Comedy club had wrong licence, says deputy minister

KUALA LUMPUR: A show-cause letter will be issued today to the Crackhouse Comedy Club as it has been operating without the correct licence, says Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias.

The club, he said, had been running with a restaurant licence, not an entertainment licence.

“They need both the restaurant licence and an entertainment licence, so they definitely violated the terms,” he said.Jalaluddin said the club would have 14 days to respond to the letter, which would be issued by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

“They can appeal to DBKL regarding the temporary suspension,” he added.

The club, he said, could apply for an entertainment licence, which is under the purview of the DBKL licence committee.

“I will leave it to the committee – they will investigate whether the present licence was abused,” Jalaluddin added.

The club made headlines when a video was circulated showing a woman claiming to have memorised 15 juz of the Quran and then removing her tudung and baju kurung, showing her in a low-cut top and short skirt.

This led to a temporary suspension of the club by DBKL.

The woman has since been remanded at the Brickfields police headquarters since Saturday.

Yesterday, police arrested her boyfriend as well.

He will be remanded for three days.

The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) is conducting an investigation as well.

Under the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act, those found guilty of insulting or causing contempt against Islam can be fined up to RM3,000 or imprisoned for up to two years, or both.

In Ipoh, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said youths must not be influenced by negative actions such as that of the woman.

“Stay away from such negative situations, and only get influenced by positive and practical traits,” he told reporters at the Perikatan Nasional state-level Kenduri Aidiladha event.

He said he hoped the woman would repent, as she should not insult her own religion.