Crackhouse Comedy Club has been operating without an entertainment licence, said Deputy Federal Territories Minister Jalaluddin Alias.
He said the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will issue a show cause letter to the comedy club which has been operating in the city’s Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) suburb with only a restaurant licence, not an entertainment licence.
“They need both. So, they definitely violated the terms (of the licence),” he was quoted as saying.
He added that the letter will be issued to the club operator today and the management will have 14 days to respond.
“They can appeal within 14 days and apply for the entertainment licence; this falls under the purview of the DBKL licensing committee.
“I will leave it to the committee to investigate whether the present licence has been abused.”
The club was ordered shut by DBKL yesterday after an open mic night participant during her performance removed her baju kurung and hijab to reveal a mini skirt worn underneath.
In a 54-second-long video that was uploaded to social media, the woman claimed she had memorised 15 chapters of the Quran, before she removed her attire to reveal a blouse and mini-skirt she was wearing underneath.
Jalaluddin said the decision to close the club sent a message that the ministry and DBKL would not tolerate behaviour disrespecting the sensitivities of religion, race and sovereignty.
Authorities are investigating the woman for intentionally insulting the sanctity of Islam.
The closure of the club, however, has since received many criticisms from comedians and netizens who believe it should not be punished for the woman’s action during an open-mic event on the premises.
Earlier reports:
Jul 11, Boyfriend of woman who allegedly insulted Islam at comedy club arrested
Jul 11, Duo targeted Merdekarya before landing in Crackhouse Comedy Club
Jul 10, Woman accused of insulting Islam at comedy club detained
Jul 10, DBKL suspends Crackhouse Comedy Club