THE federal government must intervene in Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s decision to ban all 4-digit gaming outlets in the state, Ramkarpal Singh said.

The DAP national legal bureau chairman said in a statement that the decision is an abuse of power and unnecessary.

“The Kedah menteri besar has no business in arbitrarily imposing a blanket rule on such applications purely on his personal view that such gaming activities contribute to social ills,” he said.

Ramkarpal said although section 107(3) of the Local Government Act 1976 gives a local authority the discretion to refuse to renew such licences, such action must be exercised within the confines of the law.

“As menteri besar, Sanusi cannot do anything he likes as he is bound by laws which he cannot ignore. This is a clear dictatorship,” he said.

“The federal government must intervene in this senseless act of the Kedah menteri besar forthwith or risk being seen as weak in the eyes of the public.

“Surely such an act is not only illegal but totally unnecessary?”

Earlier, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng asked Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob as well as MCA, GPS and MIC ministers to explain whether banning 4-digit gambling shops and alcohol sales to non-Muslims is the new policy under Keluarga Malaysia.

Lim speculated that the hasty decision could have been made to help PAS candidates contesting in the Malacca state elections.

Sanusi announced in a press conference at the Kedah state legislative assembly today that the state government will not renew the business licences of all 4D outlets in the state.

He also said alcohol sales will be restricted in rural areas of the state “to ensure that our people remain sane”.

“Gaming operators have been renewing their licences without any problems over the years,” Ramkarpal said.

“They have a legitimate expectation that the same will be renewed as this affects their livelihoods.

“Unless, of course, they fail to comply with any regulation in force that may justify the refusal to renew their licences.”

It was reported that PAS governments in Kelantan and Terengganu have also put in place similar decisions. – November 14, 2021.