End of the road: A 4D outlet closing down on July 17 at Jalan Bukit Lagi in Kangar, Perlis. — Photo from Sin Chew Daily
KANGAR: A 4D outlet in Jalan Bukit Lagi here has brought its shutters down for the last time, after its business premises operating licence expired on Monday.
It is the first such outlet to close down in the PAS-led state of Perlis.
An online portal reported yesterday that the Kangar Municipal Council has notified the six gaming outlets in the state that their operating licences would not be renewed.
There are three outlets in Kangar, two in Padang Besar and one in Kuala Perlis.
Perlis will be the fourth PAS-ruled state to stop issuing the licences for gaming outlets after Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah.
A local Chinese daily reported that STM Lottery Sdn Bhd had submitted an appeal but council president Norazlan Yahaya said the state would not change its stand.
Last month, Perlis Mentri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli had insisted that the gaming operators had been given enough time to venture into other businesses.
Responding to critics about the risk of creating a market for illegal bookies, Mohd Shukri said that was a task for the police.
He explained that “we shoulder the sins for approving the licences as Muslims and will be held accountable before Allah in the afterlife”.
Kedah shut down all its 45 gaming outlets since January this year while Kelantan and Terengganu already imposed the ban since 1990 and 2020.
With the ban, illegal gaming is expected to thrive with underground betting activities picking up.
While gaming operators’ licences are issued by the Federal Government, the business premises permits are issued by the respective local councils. - Star
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