THE Perikatan Nasional (PN) state government in Perlis will not renew the licences of the state’s six gaming outlets beyond March 2024.
State Housing and Local Government Committee chairperson Fakhrul Anwar Ismail said after the period ends, no gambling premises operators will be granted operating licence approval.
According to the Bintong assemblyman, the decision aligns with the PN coalition’s “Perlis Gambling Free” policy stance, of ending gambling operations after taking over the administration of the state government.
“However, the process will not be done drastically as it depends on the expiry date of the operating license of the premises involved.
“The Kangar Municipal Council (MPK) told me that the operating license of the gaming outlets will expire between this July, August and March next year, so we will not be renewing once they expired,” he told reporters after the weekly state executive council meeting on Wednesday (June 14).
He went on to say that MPK had given the entrepreneurs involved a verbal briefing and issued a notification letter.
“We take a soft approach to ensure that the businesspersons involved are not taken by surprise.
“It is being done in stages, not in one shot or hastily. We want to be fair to the operators and ensure they have ample time to prepare (to cease operation),” the Perlis exco said.
Fakhrul refuted allegations that the state government was not being clear about the licencing of gaming establishments, saying that it was already in the works, though Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli had yet to make an official announcement.
“We are not interested in sensationalising this matter because we want it to be carried out harmoniously.
“In fact, in the State Legislative Assembly meeting, we have already made known the state government’s stand that we will not be renewing the operating license of the gaming outlets once they expired.
“There are only six gaming outlets in Perlis which contribute annual revenue of RM2,544 to MPKPs, so it is easy for us to manage,” he said in responding to claims made by Indera Kayangan assemblywoman Gan Ay Ling that the state government had not been transparent about the gaming outlets’ licensing issue.
On Monday (June 12), Gan expressed her disappointment at the PN state government’s lack of transparency over the licence status for gaming outlets in the state.
She was quoted as saying by NST that the move came as a surprise and is contrary to recent reports that the state has yet to decide on banning gaming and lottery activities.
At the same time, Gan reportedly claimed the state government no longer renews gambling premises licences without any announcement.
According to Fakhrul, the subject of closing gaming establishments is neither surprising nor new, and it has been implemented in Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah, all of which are ruled by PAS.
Three of the six gaming outlets in Perlis are located in Kangar, two in Padang Besar and one in Kuala Perlis. – June 15, 2023
Main pic credit: Facebook/Fakhrul Anwar Ismail
