Anyone planning to visit the resort island of Langkawi on a Thursday is advised to take a good book. Kedah State, which includes Langkawi, has announced that all entertainment outlets, such as nightclubs, karaoke lounges, pubs, gaming centres and cinemas must close on Thursdays effective immediately. The directive is aimed at ensuring Muslims - members of the Malay community - stay at home on the eve of their holiday weekend, which begins with religious observances on Fridays. But the ruling will also affect Kedah's other races and tourists, including foreign guests who attend Langkawi's regular international symposiums and its biennial aerospace exhibition. Visitors from overseas who have previously stayed in Kuala Lumpur may be confused to find Kedah closed on Fridays, since the Malaysian capital's weekend does not begin until Saturday. However, Kedah and a number of other states chose to have their official working week begin on Sunday and end on Thursday. Operators of entertainment outlets said they would take the matter up with the state's Chief Minister, Sanusi Junid. They may find it more useful to bring it to the attention of premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, whose home and electoral seat are in Kedah. As a staunch promoter of Langkawi as an international tourist attraction and an advocate of moderation in Islam, he may not support the Thursday entertainment ban. Meanwhile, another crackdown on entertainment outlets has caused financial pain to some parents in Selangor State. Operators of video arcades, which are to be banned at the beginning of next year, have been trying to maximise their earnings in the few remaining months by offering school children loans to play their games. Many young players have amassed large debts that they have been unable to pay. In one area, 50 parents received demands for payments of M$50,000 (HK$130,500) each.
