Selangor: Not yet to ban gambling

Posted by admin on March 9th, 2011

Gamblers can continue to stake their money at any legal gaming joint in Selangor. The state has no plans to imitate Kelantan and outlaw lotteries or any other form of gambling currently allowed. Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim told reporters today that his administration had not deliberated on the subject and indicated that it was not likely to do so in the foreseeable future.

No additional regulation on gambling would be introduced, he said.

“This is our stand at the moment,” he added.

Last week, the PAS-led Kelantan state government caused an uproar when it extended its gambling ban to include the sale of lottery tickets.

State PAS leaders also called for similar ban to be imposed in all Pakatan-ruled states, including Selangor.

The move drew criticism even from Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh called on the state to lift the ban, reminding it that federal laws permitted non-Muslims to gamble.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had also lashed out at PAS over its gambling ban in Kelantan and ruled out implementing such a measure nationwide, adding that gambling was legally permissible for non-Muslims.

State FOI bill for second read

At his press conference today, Khalid also shared his thoughts on the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill scheduled for another reading in the state assembly.

He agreed with critics that the first draft tabled last year appeared to be a “watered down” version of what democracy activists would expect from such legislation.

“But the first draft was to ensure that we accommodate the interests of both the state and the federal government,” he said.

After the first draft was tabled last July, the Bar Council noted that the new law would retain the Menteri Besar’s right to classify certain types of information as secret.

Khalid said he had not studied the latest draft and would need another week before he could offer comments.

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