KUALA LUMPUR – Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli has confirmed that the state will not be renewing the licence for gambling premises beyond the end of the current operations period.
Noting that the Kangar Municipal Council will also not approve any new gambling licences, Shukri said that the decision was made after the Perikatan Nasional (PN)-led state administration conducted studies into gambling activities in the state.
“In the meantime, the state government will arrange various programmes and campaigns to educate the public on the harms and detriments of gambling,” he said in a statement today.
“The state government’s focus is to analyse every investment coming into Perlis so that it provides benefits and job opportunities, especially for our youth.”
Earlier today, PAS mouthpiece HarakahDaily reported that there are currently six gambling premises in Perlis, which will not be allowed to operate beyond March 24 next year – which is when the current licence expires.
The portal quoted state housing and local government committee chairperson Fakhrul Anwar Ismail, who said that the decision is in line with PN’s stance to put an end to gambling once ruling over the state.
In response to Indera Kayangan assemblyman Gan Ay Ling claiming that the state had failed to inform stakeholders of the decision, Fakhrul said that the Kangar Municipal Council had given a verbal briefing and issued a notification letter to the business stakeholders involved. – The Vibes, June 15, 2023
