KUALA LUMPUR – The owners of Crackhouse Comedy Club have demanded an explanation from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) over its decision to permanently blacklist them from registering and operating businesses in the city centre, failing which they will initiate legal action to invalidate the order.
In a letter to Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah sighted by The Vibes, the club’s legal representative, Karpal Singh and Company, claimed that its client had never received any notice or official letter pertaining to DBKL’s decision, as had been widely reported in the media.
It argued that if the contents of the news reports are true – that Crackhouse Comedy Club’s business licence has been revoked and that its owners would be barred from ever registering for new licences in the capital – it would seriously infringe on the right to livelihood of its clients.
The legal firm went on to say that the club owners have never been found guilty of any offence that would justify the actions taken by DBKL, with it described as “unreasonable and irrational”.
“We have been ordered to demand that you hand over any notice or letter to our client (notifying them about the aforementioned matters). If you fail to do so within 48 hours of receiving this letter, we will consider that you have indeed made those decisions.
“Please note that we have also been ordered to initiate legal action to seek relief from the high court for, among other things, an order to nullify those decisions, if we do not receive a response from you in 48 hours,” it said in the letter dated today.
This comes just a day after Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias was reported as saying that the Crackhouse Comedy Club owners have been permanently blacklisted from registering business licences for any premises in the capital, even under a different name and company.
He said the DBKL licensing committee had also, in a meeting on July 29, agreed to revoke the club’s licence effective the following day.
Jalaluddin added that several other clubs in the city centre suspected of involvement in similar activities are also being monitored. He reminded premises operating under DBKL entertainment licences to adhere to existing rules.
Crackhouse Comedy Club has been embroiled in controversy since a video went viral of a woman claiming to be a Muslim and to have memorised 15 chapters (juzuk) of the Quran took off her headscarf and baju kurung during an open mic comedy skit at the club on June 4.
The ensuing uproar saw DBKL temporarily suspend the venue’s operating licence, a move that was criticised by some of the biggest names in the Malaysian comedy scene.
Jalaluddin later on July 11 said DBKL would issue a show-cause letter to the comedy club for operating its business with only a restaurant licence, and not one needed for entertainment.
Three days later, the club’s co-founder Rizal van Geyzel was detained by authorities at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters for questioning over several viral videos allegedly insulting Malays.
On July 22, Rizal was charged at the sessions court here on three counts of allegedly inciting racial tension through online posts, to which he pleaded not guilty. – The Vibes, August 8, 2022
