Reprieve for cyber cafes
Post date: Jun 24, 2012 1:1:27 PM
Published: Fri, 10 Feb 2012
SHAH ALAM: A six-year ban on licences for new cyber cafes is being lifted but operators must comply with firm guidelines to prevent gambling and pornography while protecting minors.
Operators will risk having their licences withdrawn if they fail to adhere to regulations set out by local authorities in consultation with the Association of Cyber Cafe Operators.
“We’re viewing this very seriously. If we slack off on our part, it will mean that cyber cafes might take advantage and become cyber gambling dens,” said state executive councillor Ronnie Liu on Wednesday.
The guidelines are part of Selangor’s bid to address the issue of illegal cyber cafes, notably those that are used for cyber gambling.
The rules under the "Healthy Cyber Cafe" programme is aimed at regulating cyber cafes and making them family friendly.
Among the requirements is that operators must install software to prevent underaged patrons from using the services there past 10pm.
“Computers utilised by underaged users will automatically shut down at 10pm,” he said.
Each user will be required to log on at the counter with their MyKad and their details will be recorded in a database that can be vetted by local government enforcement officers.
Cyber cafes must also install firewalls or filtering software to block access to gambling and pornographic websites.
They must also have a minimum of 40 computers to qualify for the licence as illegal gambling dens stand to lose very little if their computers are seized.
“Most cyber gambling dens have only five computers. They can afford to have those units seized, and start all over again,” he explained.
Liu said existing cyber cafes will be given one year to renovate their premises, including changing the front facade to transparent glass as well as lighting up the interior.
“This is to make it easier for the public and especially enforcement officers to look into the premises.”
He said cyber cafe operators will have their licences withdrawn if they flout the law more than three times a year.
He said that some guidelines have been amended as a concession to cyber cafe operators.
Initially, the guidelines specified that cyber cafe owners had to pay a monthly fee of RM50 per computer.
But the amount was later reduced after committee members of the cyber cafe association complained that the amount was too high.
However, the Pandamaran assemblyperson didn’t disclose the final amount that would be included in the guidelines.
Cyber cafe owners had also wanted operation hours extended until 1am, but the state rejected that request and stipulated closing hours at midnight, for now.
Liu said the state would reconsider the 1am closing time after one year.
The rules, Liu said, would be sent to all local governments in the state in the coming weeks.
Selangor would also facilitate a meeting between local authorities and cyber cafe operators and brief both parties on the guidelines.
“Only then will the guidelines be in force. The grace period for existing cyber cafes to become a ‘Healthy Cyber Cafe’ is one year,” he said.
He said the guidelines would likely kick in by mid March.
On a related matter, Liu said he had met with Selangor deputy police chief Datuk A Thaiveegan recently and the latter had promised that police would work closely with local governments on raids.
He said the police would charge illegal cyber cafe workers and also go after the proprietors.
“Local governments can only seize the assets of cyber cafes but only the police can charge people under the law,” he said.
He lauded the police for their efforts in bringing to book operators of illegal cyber cafes and said the situation was under control.
Selangor Times