PENANG should review its licensing rules to allow eligible snooker, billiards and pool establishments to be classified as sports centres instead of entertainment centres, says Seberang Jaya assemblyman Izhar Shah Datuk Arif Shah.
He said the move would help promote the sports among young people and develop local talent, particularly as Penang is scheduled to host the snooker and billiards events at the 2027 SEA Games.
Debating at the State Legislative Assembly sitting today, Izhar Shah (PN-Seberang Jaya) proposed that the state executive councillors in charge of sports and local government work with the state legal adviser and state financial officer to review the relevant licensing rules and conditions.
“Establishments that meet the criteria for sports development should be allowed to operate under the sports centre category rather than being automatically classified as entertainment centres.
“The review should also cover licensing conditions, including age restrictions, prohibitions on alcohol consumption and gambling, as well as the implications of entertainment duty, subject to the respective authorities’ jurisdictions.
“Clear criteria can be introduced, including requirements for structured training programmes, collaboration with sports associations, supervision of underage participants and restrictions on undesirable activities,” he said.
Izhar Shah said hosting the SEA Games in 2027 will provide an opportunity to introduce snooker, billiards and pool to a wider audience and encourage more young people to take up the sports.
He added that existing interest among young people should be nurtured through better access to training facilities, coaching and structured talent development pathways.
He also called for community training centres to complement existing sports academies, ensuring that opportunities reached young people in residential areas and villages.
“Young people should not merely attend the SEA Games as spectators or rely solely on existing academies. They should have access to nearby training facilities, qualified coaches and opportunities to compete, with a pathway to becoming competitive athletes in the future,” he said.
He urged the state government to coordinate the proposed review and present an implementation plan to the assembly.
On the challenges posed by Penang’s ageing population and declining birth rate, Izhar Shah welcomed the state government’s Mempelai Emas programme as an incentive for newlyweds.
He said many young couples have to work to support their families and proposed that the state government establish a network of community childcare and after-school transit centres, beginning with at least one pilot centre in each district before expanding according to the needs of individual state constituencies.
“These facilities should provide care for infants and young children, as well as after-school transit services. They should also accommodate shift workers, charge reasonable fees and offer targeted subsidies,” he said.
Izhar Shah also welcomed the state government’s initiative to regularise childcare centres, kindergartens and care centres by Feb 28, 2027.
However, he suggested that the authorities review existing requirements and simplify the process of establishing or registering private childcare centres, while ensuring that they comply with the law and meet safety standards.
Story by K.H. Ong