Rep: Show proof that betting outlet ban lifted
Zaidatul Syreen Abdul RashidPublished: Mar 11, 2011 1:08 AM | Updated: Mar 11, 2011 3:26 AM
Batu Burok state assemblyperson Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi has challenged Terengganu exco member Toh Chin Yaw to show proof that the ban on betting outlets in the state has been lifted.
Batu Burok state assemblyperson Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi has challenged Terengganu exco member Toh Chin Yaw to show proof that the ban on betting outlets in the state has been lifted.
When contacted by Malaysiakini today, the veteran lawmaker expressed doubts over Toh’s claims that there was no ban in Terengganu because there was no public announcement.
“Running a betting outlets and purchasing betting slips even through the black market is still illegal and it has not been lifted yet in Terengganu, simple as that.
“How can he (Toh) say that running a betting outlet in Terengganu is legal now?” he said.
Syed Azman (right) added that that the authorities have been conducting raids on betting outlets operating out of grocery stores and newspapers stands.
According to a report by Sin Chew Daily on Wednesday, Toh said that betting outlets in Terengganu were not banned and explained that the reason why no such premises exist in the state was because no one had applied for a permit to run such businesses since BN recaptured the state in 2004.
That ban was put in place at the local authorities level in 1999 after PAS swept into power.
Scrutiny over Terengganu’s policy on betting outlets for numbers betting and lottery tickets came under scrutiny after MCA and Gerakan politicians started lambasting PAS-ruled Kelantan for recently raiding stationary stores which sold lottery tickets.
They argued that this was a sign that PAS will bring forth more Islamic policies if Pakatan Rakyat controlled Putrajaya.
Repeated attempts to obtain a confirmation on the lifting of the betting outlet ban from several Terengganu cabinet members, including Menteri Besar Ahmad Said, through telephone and text messages went unanswered.
When contacted by Malaysiakini today, the veteran lawmaker expressed doubts over Toh’s claims that there was no ban in Terengganu because there was no public announcement.
“Running a betting outlets and purchasing betting slips even through the black market is still illegal and it has not been lifted yet in Terengganu, simple as that.“How can he (Toh) say that running a betting outlet in Terengganu is legal now?” he said.
Syed Azman (right) added that that the authorities have been conducting raids on betting outlets operating out of grocery stores and newspapers stands.
According to a report by Sin Chew Daily on Wednesday, Toh said that betting outlets in Terengganu were not banned and explained that the reason why no such premises exist in the state was because no one had applied for a permit to run such businesses since BN recaptured the state in 2004.
That ban was put in place at the local authorities level in 1999 after PAS swept into power.
Scrutiny over Terengganu’s policy on betting outlets for numbers betting and lottery tickets came under scrutiny after MCA and Gerakan politicians started lambasting PAS-ruled Kelantan for recently raiding stationary stores which sold lottery tickets.
They argued that this was a sign that PAS will bring forth more Islamic policies if Pakatan Rakyat controlled Putrajaya.
Repeated attempts to obtain a confirmation on the lifting of the betting outlet ban from several Terengganu cabinet members, including Menteri Besar Ahmad Said, through telephone and text messages went unanswered.
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