CHINESE social organisations in Kulim, Malaysia, are facing difficulty renewing their mahjong permits by the local council China Press reported yesterday.

The non-renewal of the permits has caused anxiety among the local Chinese community.

Many described the move as disrespect for the Chinese, the daily reported.

Bandar Baru Kulim Gerakan division chairman Wong Ngean Foh told the daily that the Serdang Old Boys Association's permit for mahjong, which expired last October, was not renewed.

Wong said he believed that other associations also faced a similar problem.

He said association members considered mahjong as entertainment and not as a form of gambling. -The Star/ANN