ALOR STAR – The week-long Kedah assembly sitting was a “sinful” affair as debates mostly centred on the non-issuance of permits to 4D gaming outlets and the ban of alcohol sales in Malay majority areas.
The assembly was adjourned sine die on Thursday after approving RM730 million for the state’s Budget 2022.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor (Jeneri-PAS) last Sunday ignited a firestorm when the state decided to neither renew nor issue new licences for 4D gaming outlets.
He then came under heavy criticism, including a suit filed by opposition DAP at the high court yesterday to seek a judicial review over the premise licence for 4D gaming outlets.
The suit is challenging Kedah’s “unreasonable” refusal to renew the licences, a decision it said is “liable to be quashed by the high court” upon an application for judicial review.
However, it is highly likely that Sanusi will not be moved by the suit as he had publicly said he was willing to face legal actions on the permits and alcohol control.
He also gave the examples of Kelantan and Terengganu, which adopted similar decisions and did not face any legal action.
I don’t deny the rights of non-Muslims, but I am determined to maintain the harmony of the people in Kedah. It is not an issue of the Chinese, it is also not an issue with the Siamese, Indians and Malays. I don’t want the communities in Kedah to fall prey to the gambling phenomenon.
“After losing money in betting, they return home to beat their wives and children. Then, they continue to lose their jobs and start to sell scrap metal for RM50 and spend the money again in betting as they ignore the welfare of their families,” he said on Thursday after the assembly ended.
He later urged gambling operators in the state to find other business alternatives to survive.
“Look for other businesses. During the pandemic, many people lost their jobs and did all kinds of businesses. We need to be creative,” he told the assembly on Monday.
The state’s decision to ban alcohol sales does not sit well for the Langkawi business community as its duty-free status is one they are banking on to recover post-pandemic.
Sanusi in his winding-up speech said the ban on alcohol sales will not affect places like Sg Petani, where there are more non-Malays but the policy does affect Langkawi.
At the end of the assembly on Thursday, it passed a bill to amend the state constitution to lower the eligible age of electoral candidates for state seats from 21 to 18.
However, the debate around Sanusi’s decision on 4D gaming outlets and alcohol sales is expected to drag on as DAP is eager to clap back on the issue. – The Vibes, November 20, 2021
