Police warn nightclub operators holding ‘private parties’

KUALA LUMPUR: Party-goers and nightclub operators who organise private parties discreetly, defying the new norms and standard operating procedures (SOP) in place to prevent Covid-19 infection, will not be spared from the law.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim said that of late, many entertainment outlets and nightclub operators had shifted their “business strategy” to organising private parties, instead of their usual outlet operations.

He said private gatherings and parties appeared to have mushroomed at secure, high-end venues since the government imposed strict restrictions on entertainment outlets.

“We believe private parties held at discreet venues such as clubs, condominiums and poolsides are the latest trend that entertainment operators have adopted to make quick money.

“These parties are highly confidential among those attending and the SOPs are hardly followed, increasing the possible risk of Covid-19 spread.”

Mazlan said police viewed such events as a potential risk and illegal.

“Yesterday, police raided a private party at a recreational club in Brickfields, where we compounded 303 people for participating in the gathering. Of those arrested, the majority or 216 were foreigners and the rest were locals. The total compound issued at the party was a whopping RM1.56 million,” he said, adding that 24 people detained in the raid tested positive for drugs.

He said all of them were compounded under Section 22 (b) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) for several SOP violations, including no physical distancing and not wearing face masks as well as under Section 4 of the Entertainment Act, Section 6 (1) of the Immigration Act 1959 and Section 32 of the Excise Act 1976.

It is learnt that these parties are normally held at private locations. The organiser would send out personal invites to their regular customers to join. A fee is charged according to the venue and entertainment provided.

In the latest case, each patron was charged RM60 to join the party, while each table was priced between RM1,200 and RM8,000, depending on the liquor served.

“I have sent out a directive for all state police chiefs to be on high alert and to carry out regular checks at clubs and premises to ensure everyone complies with the SOP under the National Recovery Plan.

“There are 68 compliance teams here and they will continue to conduct checks from time to time to make sure the SOP are followed to reduce any possible risk of Covid-19 from spreading.”

Mazlan said this after launching the upgraded C41 — Computer, Communication, Control and Command Empowering System Integration (C4i) at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters yesterday.