No need for anti-gambling policy in PAS manifesto, says Sanusi

PAS election director Sanusi Nor has ruled out the need for his party to explicitly state its goal of ending gambling nationwide in the election manifesto. Sanusi, who is also Kedah menteri besar, believes that the party's stance against gambling is already clearly stated in the constitution. He emphasized that PAS's policy aligns with Islamic values, as gambling is prohibited in Islam, as outlined in Clause 5 of their constitution.

PAS previously encouraged Muslim voters to elect the party to federal power to combat gambling. When asked about lottery operators seeking compensation due to the Kedah government's scrapped ban on licence renewals, Sanusi stated that his administration would be ready to defend them if they decide to file a lawsuit. The Federal Court recently rejected the Kedah government's attempt to overturn a ruling that prevented the state from refusing to renew licences for pool betting and lottery operators.

The Court of Appeal ruled that the state government could only regulate licensing based on factors such as building conditions, safety compliance, sanitation, nuisance, and location suitability.