ALOR SETAR: The effective ban on 4D outlets in Kedah is to maintain harmony in the state, menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor told the state assembly today.
He said the ills from gambling had been proven to wreck families, and that the negatives easily outweigh the positives on the issue.
Sanusi told the assembly his decision to stop the renewal of business licences of 4D operators in the state stemmed from his gratitude for “Allah’s blessings to me and the state”.
Citing a story narrated by Prophet Muhammad’s friend Abu Qilabah over a suffering peasant in the desert of Egypt, Sanusi said if one continued to give thanks to Allah’s blessings (“nikmat”), God would give more blessings.
“So, this is my way of giving thanks for His blessings. And for more blessings to come, I have decided not to allow the renewal of business licences for gaming outlets.
“But yet, people claim that this is an infringement of human rights, racist and takes away the rights of non-Muslims. Such arguments are not valid.
“There is no study showing that gambling is beneficial,” the Jeneri assemblyman said in his winding-up speech at the state assembly today.
Sanusi also claimed that the situation was the same in China, with gambling outlawed and 117,000 people arrested for being involved in the vice in border towns.
“That is China. Here, we have a country with a Muslim majority. Islam forbids gambling. So, we are taking an approach to take care of the community’s harmony.
“I hope to take similar steps in the same spirit in the future and I welcome all to give their suggestions,” he added.
On Sunday, Sanusi announced that the state government has decided not to renew business licences of 4D outlets and place curbs on alcohol sales in areas with “low demand”.
Opposition leader Phahrolrazi Zawawi (PH-Alor Mengkudu) had called the move unjust, as it was a form of imposition of Islamic values and laws on non-Muslims. - FMT
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