KOTA KINABALU: The proposal to limit the operating hours of entertainment outlets to 1am has been deemed unsuitable by the Sabah government.
Deputy chief minister Datuk Christina Liew said the state government is not keen on implementing the proposal as it could affect Sabah's tourism sector.
"In Sabah, we have our own unique entertainment and culture, which may be different from Kuala Lumpur and we have our own plans," said Liew, who is also state Tourism, Culture and Environment minister.
"We can provide entertainment to attract tourists. So, there is no issue.
"I don't think we have to worry too much about the (proposal) considering what we have here," she told the NSTP after a Sabah Tourism Board event here last night.
She was asked whether Sabah would consider emulating Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), which plans to limit the operating hours of all entertainment centres in the federal capital to 1am.
Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad had said a small number of these centres would be given special permission to operate until 3 or 5 am.
He had also said DBKL would also start enforcing the regulation on entertainment centres which operate longer than 1am by January next year.
Meanwhile, Kota Kinabalu Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai said at present, entertainment outlets in the city normally closed at 1am on weekdays and 2am on weekends.
He said entertainment outlets located in tourist zones could extend their operating hours by submitting an application to Kota Kinabalu City Hall.
"Among the tourist zones include Sutera Habour Resort and Imago shopping mall.
"We are also willing to extend the operating hours of entertainment centres on certain days like Christmas, Kaamatan, Chinese New Year and New Year's Day," he said, adding that this would attract foreign tourists to the state.