SUBANG Jaya Municipal Council has submitted a working paper to the Selangor Government with a recommendation that the operating time of cybercafes as well as the age limit of customers be regulated to facilitate enforcement.

Council president Ahmad Fuad Ismail said in the absence of proper regulations, it had become increasingly difficult for the council to monitor the activities of cybercafes, some of which were operating past midnight and serving alcoholic drinks to customers.

He said among the other recommendations in the working paper were that children below 12 must be accompanied by parents or guardians, and the limiting of operating hours. He said since the cybercafes were allowed to operate under a normal cafe operations licence, they were allowed to operate round the clock with no age limit imposed."

"There is no control now, we need to restrict their activities." he said. He added that there were more than a dozen cybercafes in Subang Jaya. Ahmad Fuad said some cybercafes were also found to be allowing patrons to use CD-ROM games with elements of sex violence and gambling.

They were also found to be allowing young children to patronise the centres as late as 4am. He told the councillors at the fullboard meeting that there had been numerous complaints from parents, teachers and residents on cybercafes allowing young children to use the facilities until the wee hours of the morning.

He said the council could not use the Entertainment Enactment for enforcement as cybercafes were not licensed under that law. Councillor and Subang Jaya State Assemblyman Lee Hwa Beng said he too had received complaints on the matter.