SIBU: The police here have recommended two pubs in town be closed after they found the night entertainment centres being turned into drug havens.This is another strict measure they are looking into after they have kicked several drug pushers out of Sarawak under the Special Preventive Law.
The properties of some pushers have also been confiscated.
Sibu police chief ACP Shafie Ismail, when contacted yesterday, confirmed they had resorted to the tough action as they vowed to sweep clean the town of the social ill.
He said although drug offences here were under control they did not want the situation to get out of hand.
“There is already a tendency these crimes are picking up as more cases have been detected. We have to put a brake to them now.”
He said from their frequent night raids, drug offences were being implicated in these two pubs.
“We suspect drugs are being sold and youths seeking fun there are abusing them too.”
Shafie said the police had written to Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) to request the licences of these two pubs terminated.
He said SMC was working on their recommendations now.
The police chief said he had evidence to back up his claim on these offences.
He said from their successful raids, numerous pub customers roped into the police station were tested positive of drug abuse.
He said there were rumours pub workers were selling drugs there, but, following investigation, they found them clean.
“Both the pub owners and the workers have been investigated. They have their urine tested too.”
He said they recommended the closure of the first pub last year and this was followed by another recommendation for the second pub this year.
“I am warning all the other pub operators. If they dare to let their entertainment centres be turned into havens of drug offences, we shall resort to the same tough action. We shall not tolerate.”
The police chief said they had already called on the night entertainment centre operators to co-operate with them.
“If they suspect such crimes being committed in their premises, they should call us for further action.”
Shafie admitted some pub owners had been working with the police and they had received such information from them.
He said similar appeals had been made to the hoteliers.
“We have to work together to protect our community.”