No need for anti-gambling policy in PAS manifesto, says Sanusi

 Kedah MB also vows to fight lottery operators in court if they file legal action seeking compensation over the state's scrapped ban on licence renewals.

PAS election director Sanusi Nor said it is unnecessary to include the party’s goal to end gambling nationwide in its election manifesto as Islamic policies naturally reject gambling.

PETALING JAYA:

PAS election director Sanusi Nor has dismissed any need for the party to include its goal to end gambling nationwide in its election manifesto, saying the stand is clearly enshrined in its constitution.

Sanusi, the Kedah menteri besar, said the Islamic policies pursued by PAS naturally reject gambling as part of forming Islamic values in the country.

“PAS’s policy is Islam, and in Islam, gambling is prohibited. That is already in Clause 5 of the PAS constitution, so there’s no need to wait for a manifesto,” he said, according to Sinar Harian.

Last month, PAS urged Muslim voters to put the party in federal power to end gambling.

Asked about lottery operators seeking compensation over the Kedah government’s now-scrapped ban on licence renewals, Sanusi said his administration would wait for them to file the action.

“If they want to file a suit to seek compensation, we will fight them,” he said.

On Aug 12, the Federal Court rejected the Kedah government’s attempt to overturn a ruling that barred the state administration from refusing to renew licences for pool betting and lottery operators.

The Court of Appeal had ruled that the state government could not impose a blanket ban on pool betting and lottery businesses solely on the grounds that it was against gambling.

The appellate court said the state government could only regulate licensing based on premises-related factors, including building conditions, safety compliance, sanitation, causing a nuisance and the suitability of locations. - FMT