KEDAH residents have mounted a legal challenge at the Alor Star High Court over the recent decision of Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor not to renew the licences of 4D gaming outlets in the state.

Assisted by Ramkarpal Singh, who heads the DAP national legal bureau, Liew Han Eng and three others filed a judicial review yesterday at the court.

“The action was filed by Messrs Karpal Singh & Co at the Alor Setar High Court on Thursday and is supported by the affidavit of the plaintiffs who are Alor Setar residents and have partaken in such licensed gaming activities in the past,” Ramkarpal said in a statement.

“It will be contended by them, amongst others, that the decision of the Kedah government not to renew such gaming licences is ultra vires the Federal Constitution as the power to issue such licenses are exclusively within the jurisdiction of Parliament.”

The Bukit Gelugor MP added that Liew and three others also contend that the said decision of the MB is unreasonable and liable to be quashed by the High Court upon an application for judicial review.

“All papers will be served on the relevant parties in due course and we hope to obtain an early date for the hearing for leave at the Alor Setar High Court.”

Sanusi announced the controversial decision that the state will not be renewing the business licences of 4D gaming outlets, which are issued by local authorities, in Kedah.

He said the decision will take effect from next year, adding that the move will  help tackle the ills resulting from gambling. In announcing his decision, the menteri besar also said those in Kedah who wanted to purchase 4D tickets can go to Penang.

The prohibition has received heavy criticism from opposition leaders such as DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng who questioned Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob whether banning 4D gambling shops in the state and curbing the sale of alcohol to non-Muslims was the new policy under the Keluarga Malaysia slogan.

Lim speculated that the hasty decision by the PAS-led Kedah government was to shore up Malay support for the Islamist party’s candidates in the Malacca elections.