IT makes no sense to reopen Malaysia’s borders to travellers come April 1 and expect the tourism sector to recover when nightclubs are told to stay closed, business owners in the entertainment sector said.

The country is to begin its transition to the endemic stage of the Covid-19 pandemic on April 1, but while all other economic activities are allowed to operate, nightclubs remain the only business that cannot reopen as they are deemed high-risk.

Industry players say that entertainment outlets are related to tourism and without them, local tourism will not be as attractive to visitors compared to neighbouring countries, which are also allowing travel arrangements for tourists under strict Covid-19 regulations.

“Spin-off sectors symbiotic with the tourism industry are clothing, food, accommodation, transport, leisure and entertainment. If nightclubs can’t open, what do tourists do for entertainment?” asked Khoo Kong Ek, a consultant for the Johor Association of Entertainment Merchants. 

Malaysia will be less attractive than its neighbour Thailand, he added.

For Johor, the decision to keep nightclubs closed will cause other businesses to suffer, Khoo said.

“Many people from Singapore come over to Johor to do business and before Covid-19, they patronised entertainment outlets and nightclubs where business meetings are held over drinks.

“This also benefits the hotel industry. If business talks run late, the businessmen would rent a hotel room for a night and leave the next day,” he said.

The domino effect of keeping nightclubs closed will also impact other jobs, such as hotels, late-night eateries, taxi and e-hailing drivers and entertainers, he added.

Ang Lai Hee, the owner of several nightclubs, agreed, saying entertainment outlets are not only a place for leisure but also for business people to conduct meetings.

“They are a social platform for the business community.

“But in this country, because of Muslim sentiments towards alcohol, perhaps there is less understanding about this aspect,” said Ang.

Federation of Malaysian Entertainment Industry president Liew Poon Siak said entertainment centres help in promoting tourism, even if they are just one aspect of a tourist’s holiday apart from other activities.

“Not allowing entertainment centres and nightclubs to open is not a good thing for the tourism industry, and there will be an impact.”

No dialogue with government

Liew questioned why other close-contact R&R activities such as spas and massage parlours can open for business, while houses of worship can hold meetings and prayers without physical distancing under rules on the transition to endemicity beginning April 1.

“It feels prejudicial towards nightclubs. The government’s decision is akin to putting the entertainment industry to death.”

Ang pointed out another inconsistency in the government’s rules – family karaoke outlets, which are licensed as entertainment centres, are allowed to operate, but nightclubs with karaoke are not.

Liew added that not every nightclub could afford to survive the pandemic by pivoting their business to becoming restaurants serving alcohol.

Khoo, meanwhile, said that in essence, a nightclub that serves food and alcohol and a restaurant that serves the same items, both operate in the same way. The only difference with a nightclub are additional light and sound effects to create a different atmosphere.

He added that entertainment industry leaders have expressed their concerns to the National Security Council, ministers and local governments through various channels.

But the government has not displayed any understanding of how the industry operates, he added.

“The government has never asked the entertainment industry to sit down and talk, nor tried to understand its operations, so there are always misunderstandings about how we work.

“Their understanding of entertainment centres is still stuck in the 90s, they have the idea that there is a lot of dancing, but this is not true. Or they think people will get into accidents after drinking, but the reality now is people who drink will rather opt for e-hailing services.

“We are willing to cooperate and abide by the standard operating procedure set by the government so that we can resume work,” Khoo said.

The Industries Unite business group in October last year urged the government to allow all sectors, including nightclubs, to reopen.

It made the same call again earlier this week, saying nightclubs need not open dance floors and could follow all other Covid-19 standard operating procedure, including social distancing, in order to reopen. – March 17, 2022.