SABAH is stepping up the fight against illegal gambling, with the chief minister saying he will ask that Putrajaya stop issuing licences for slot machines in the state.

Mohd Shafie Apdal said he will speak with Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng on the matter.

“On gambling, I am very clear. I will not allow it in Sabah.

“However, the Finance Ministry still issues licences for slot machines. I will meet Lim to tell him to stop this,” he said during a session with the Chinese business community in Sandakan today.

He was responding to a question on the state government’s stand on slot machine outlets.

The Parti Warisan Sabah president is in the parliamentary constituency to campaign for Pakatan Harapan candidate Vivian Wong, of DAP. Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, is also stumping for Wong ahead of tomorrow’s by-election.

Of Sandakan’s 40,000 voters, 51% are Chinese.

Shafie said he does not want to see low-income families “crushed” due to gambling addiction.

“You want to play mahjong, that’s fine, but don’t use money. I know mahjong. It is very important where I’m from,” said the Semporna lawmaker.

He said Sabah will not approve gambling outlets, and called on people to report illegal gambling in their areas.

On Wednesday, state interfaith groups issued a letter, calling on the Sabah and federal governments to ban mini-casino operations in the state.

The letter, addressed to the prime minister, finance minister, Sabah head of state and chief minister, was signed by the state Council of Churches, state Interdenominational Education Committee, state Theology Seminary Association and state Buddhist Foundation, among others. – May 10, 2019.