The Star, Friday March 16, 2012

More waiting for cinemas in Bangi

SEVERAL Bangi residents were unhappy over the ban of a proposed cinema in the area.

One of them is Mohd Nasir, a 50-year-old doctor is all for a cinema in Bangi.

“The films shown in Malaysian cinemas are censored and a cinema is a family-friendly place.

 Every month, I will go to the cinema in the city centre with my children. I think the society is matured enough,” he said.

Rejected: A commercial development in Section 15, Bangi, where the proposed cinema was supposed to be located contructed.

 

Another Bangi resident Mustapha Kamil said while it was not a hassle to travel to cinemas in Alamanda Putrajaya or The Mines, he did not understand the necessity for a ban.

“If someone wants to do something immoral, he or she can do it anywhere. There are more people who want to just enjoy a movie than to commit immoral activities in the cinema.

“There was a cinema in Warta (a superstore in Bangi) about three years ago but there were complaints from residents and politicians,” he said.

UKM student Ng Swee Fein, a 22-year-old from Muar, said it was inconvenient for her to go to Balakong for a movie as she did not have her own transport.

However, the inconvenience was more because of the lack of public transport than the distance.

“If Bangi has a cinema, I hope there will be a bus route to it,” she said.

Kajang Municipal Council president Datuk Hasan Nawawi Abd Rahman said: “It is the council’s role to approve building plans and issue licences, not the assemblyman. However, since the issue has been politicised, we will leave it to the state to decide.”

Hulu Langat MP Dr Che Rosli Che Mat (PAS) said it was up to Bangi residents whether to have a cinema or not.

Meanwhile in was reported in The Star earlier that Bangi assemblyman Dr Shafie Abu Bakar said it was his constituents and not PAS who had objected to a cinema in his constituency.

He added that a cinema was not in line with Islamic values and would lead to vice activities.

Dr Abdul Halim Tamuri, who has been living in Bangi since 1987, supports the ban as he felt that there should not be too many entertainment outlets in Bangi.

“Bangi is a Bandar Ilmu (knowledge town). There are many education institutions here such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor International Islamic University College and Teacher’s Training Institute and there should not be many distractions for the students.

“We already have bowling centres (one in Kompleks Diamond) and there are entertainment outlets in Kajang and Putrajaya,” said the UKM lecturer who teaches Islamic education.