A recent Miri City Council (MCC) inspection of over 80 reflexology and health centres here found most of them to be following the rules and regulations stipulated in their licences. Miri Mayor Lawrence Lai, who joined the seven-day operation, said only one was operating without a licence, while two others were issued compounds for selling beer.
“Overall, most of them are complying with the rules and regulations as stipulated in their licences. Some of them have been reminded to replace some features or designs of the massage parlour, where one quarter of the door should be glass with no locks. There must be partitions between the ceiling,” said Lai.
“I was made to understand by the Miri police chief that there is no report on prostitution cases and activities in reflexology centres up to now.
“They will act if there
are any reports of such activities and they are monitoring.”Lai said 10 centres might be forced to cease operations following the Labour Department’s freeze on Approval Permits for foreign workers. “These are necessary to support the Immigration Department’s work permit applications.
“This doesn’t mean that they don’t want to get locals but it is difficult to get them. Most of the clients feel that foreigners are trained and able to give good service. Now, they have no workers and they have to close down,” he explained. The inspection also revealed that there are currently 269 foreigners employed by reflexology and health centres here.
“During the inspection we also requested for workers’ medical reports such as blood tests. We could be the first in the whole of Malaysia to ask for blood tests for HIV and other transmitted diseases,” said Lai.
However, he called on the public not to misinterpret the requirement for medical reports, as this was just a precautionary measure. Lai added that MCC will compile data from the inspections for the Labour Department, Immigration Department and police.