Lump sum payment a burden, say Kedah entertainment centre operators
ALOR SETAR, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- Entertainment centre operators here are in a bind over payment of licence fees.
They are lamenting over the state government's directive compelling them to pay the fees in lump sum at the beginning of the year, instead of monthly as in previous years.
Kedah Gerakan liaison chairman Dr Cheah Soon Hai said the directive was impractical as the industry's business fluctuated.
"Sometimes, business is good. At other times, it's the reverse. For instance, during the fasting month, the operators were required to close the centres.
"In previous years, if the business was closed for a month, the operator did not have to pay the fee for that month," he told a media conference here today.
According to him, a snooker operator for instance, had to fork out RM2,000 annually per table.
"If there are 20 tables, the total would be RM40,000. Where can the operator find the amount to pay right away?," he asked.
Meanwhile, Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang said the entertainment licence fee in Kedah which has 3,000 centres, including snooker, karaoke and music class, was higher as compared to other states.
State financial officer Datuk Mohd Puat Mohd Ali, who issued the directive dated Dec 4, last year, declined comment on the matter.
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