He said, government was fully aware of the deceitfull activities carried out by the said proprietors who altered and modified the software and hardware ofthe computers installed in their premises.

`As this is a direct violation of the premise license approval under the trade and commercial by-laws as well as Food Establishment by laws, the local government agencies are empowered to take a full action against the errant operators,' he said, in a reference to a reply by Housing and Local Government Ministry at the parliament third session, which began two days ago.

Tiong had asked the minister earlier whether the ministry had clear guidelines to the local government authorities in monitoring the growth of cyber cafeswhich are violating the laws by using their premises as video game andelectronic gambling centers which had direct influence on children.

As the government has taken a serious view on the matter, he said, local government agencies or other related agencies should take prompt action on these unscrupulous cyber cafe operators.

According to Tiong, that is in line with Government's call on stern and continuous action be taken against these operators who flouted the regulation.

`Cyber cafes will remain as cyber cafes and they cannot mix and operate internet services together with video games or electronic gambling which violated the business registration regulation'

He further explained that the Ministry had on May 5, 1999 issued a circularon the monitoring of cyber cafes to all state authorities and local government agencies informing them that the government had decided not to impose any formof censorship on the internet and that the government had directed local authorities concerned to withdraw any action or regulations pertaining to the cafes.

Conversely, he said government had decided that it was suffice for such cafe business were regulated by the business registration regulation as what they usually impose similar regulations on restaurants, eating outlets and others.

Thus, he explained that cyber cafes are strictly not allowed to operate the video games or any other electronic games or gambling.

Tiong said the sprouting of internet service centres in the country was a good indication that the development in information technology was rapidly taking place, as the society could acquire numerous global information without any boundaries in sourcing good materials for knowledge, learning, entertainment and others.

However, he stressed that government definitely is not fond of the idea whencyber cafes are being misused to reap profits through unhealthy activities such as gambling.

In his earlier press statement in August last year, Tiong had warned the authorities on the menace of video-arcade horse racing gambling activities in Sarawak.

Tiong commented that the authorities had not monitored closely to the activities, following various complaints from members of public, especially parents.

He said, some parents had informed him that their school-going children had been playing truant and cut school to such centre, adding that a few addicted children even started stealing their parents' money.

He was disappointed that some owners had leased out their premises to operators of video gambling machines and had subsequently allowed the studentsto play those games.

He also advised the operators of these video arcades to understand the negative effects of such gambling game to youths and teenagers.

Lastly, Tiong also urged the police and other relevant authorities to increase enforcement efforts and take drastic action to curb such gambling activities....END.