PAS wants Putrajaya to review gambling licence policy

The opposition party PAS has called on the federal government to review its gambling licence policy. This was decided through a motion without debate at the party’s 72nd muktamar, held in KOTA BHARU. PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said the issue was deemed important enough to warrant a review of the current policy, which he believes should consider halting the issuance of new gambling licences.

The motion was tabled by Baling PAS at the muktamar, which took place at the Pusat Tarbiah Islamiah Kelantan. The proposal also referenced the Kedah government’s recent efforts to halt the renewal of local business licences for 4D betting and lottery outlets starting from January 1, 2023. The Federal Court recently rejected Kedah’s attempt to overturn a Court of Appeal ruling that prevented the state administration from refusing to renew local business licences for pool betting and lottery businesses based solely on whether it violated gambling laws.

The appellate court upheld the principle that state governments can only regulate business licences based on factors such as building conditions, safety compliance, sanitation, causing a nuisance, and location suitability. Fadhli noted that the court’s decisions highlight the constraints faced by state governments and local authorities when trying to implement stricter regulations on gambling premises, given that gambling and licensing matters are subject to federal jurisdiction under the Constitution.

Consequently, PAS decided to urge the federal government, specifically the finance ministry, to reassess its gambling licence policy. The motion further urged PAS MPs to bring the matter up for discussion in the Dewan Rakyat with the aim of proposing amendments to relevant federal laws, thereby providing state governments with clearer and lawful grounds to establish stricter regulations for gambling operations.

Additionally, the motion called upon state governments, particularly those led by PAS and Perlis, to strengthen existing laws, local authority policies, and administrative procedures to ensure that measures aimed at curbing gambling-related activities are firmly grounded in legal frameworks.