Deputy federal territories minister Jalaluddin Alias said Crackhouse Comedy Club did not have a valid licence from 2014 until 2017, but obtained an operating licence in 2018.

“Although several applications were made, the operators of the premises failed to comply with various requirements in each application,” he said in a statement.

While the club managed to obtain a permit in 2018, he said, it was only an operating licence, not an entertainment permit.

“Such premises must have both operating and entertainment licences,” he said.

On Sunday, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) suspended the club’s operations after a video clip allegedly insulting to Islam went viral on social media.

Jalaluddin said the suspension sends a clear message that the government will not tolerate any activity deemed offensive to religion, race and the country’s sovereignty.

Following the incident, the club lodged a police report against the woman, and barred her and her partner from the venue with immediate effect.

This morning, an individual, Siti Nuramira Abdullah, was charged under Section 298A of the Penal Code with causing disharmony on the grounds of religion.

A freelance writer, Alexander Navin Vijayachandran, believed to be her boyfriend, was charged in another court with two counts of uploading insulting content on social media.