THE Penang government today told Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Dr Wee Ka Siong to provide the police proof that illegal gambling is rife in the state.

Wee had recently said Selangor and Penang, both Pakatan Harapan ruled states, had the highest number of illegal gambling dens in the country.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said Wee should give information to the state police to back his claims.

“The CPO (state police chief Commissioner Chuah Ghee Lye) has already rebutted the claim,” he told a press conference in Komtar today.

“Wee should respond to the CPO, share the information he has and not try to politicise the matter.”

Lim said his government wanted to help the authorities curb illegal gambling.

He also said the state government did not have the authority to issue gambling licenses.

“To single out Penang also ignores the fact that gambling is under the Federal Government’s jurisdiction. We don’t issue such licenses,” he said.

Wee, who is MCA deputy president, had reportedly said that statistics by the authorities had shown that Penang and Selangor had the most illegal gambling dens with slot machines.

He also reportedly called on Penang to work with the federal authorities to shut down illegal gambling businesses, instead of accusing the Federal Government of tarnishing the image of the opposition-controlled state. – May 31, 2017.