http://harakahdaily.net/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=603:selangor-penang-off-limits-to-football-gamblers&catid=34:primary&Itemid=56
Selangor, Penang off limits to football gamblers
SUBANG JAYA, May 29, 2010: The Selangor and Penang state governments have decided not to allow any premises under their jurisdiction to operate gambling activities once licenses expired.
Selangor state exco for Muslim Affairs, Malay Customs, Infrastructure and Public Amenities Dr Hasan Mohd Ali (picture) said the decision was made in the state's Exco meeting recently.
He said state-owned premises which come under local authorities will no longer be used for gambling businesses when their licenses expired.
Hasan, who is also the state PAS commissioner, was asked on reports that three local authorities in the state had banned soccer betting by tycoon Vincent Tan's Ascot Sports, which has been recently awarded with sports betting licence by the federal government, drawing nationwide condemnation.
"The Exco members decided not to allow any extra gambling activities in premises under the state jurisdiction," he told Harakahdaily after Friday prayers at Subang Airport mosque.
A similar decision has been reached in Penang, with a move by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (picture) to bar sports betting.
In his Wesak’s day message, Guan Eng said the state government has decided to reject the application from Ascot or other related parties to conduct the sports betting business in Penang.
Lim said the decision was taken to promote a healthier and more responsible lifestyle for Penangites, and to discourage the excessive number of draws and special draws.
“Many of the breadwinners feel obliged to ‘chase’ after each draws with all three operators resulting in substantial loss of income to the family and their children.
"The Penang state government feels that the number of draws and special draws should not be too excessive and be reduced so that they do not become addictive and destructive to our healthy lifestyles,” he added.
The Pulau Pinang and Seberang Prai municipal councils have been been directed by the state government to invoke Section 101(v) of the Local Government Act to ban sports betting, despite its legalisation by the Barisan Nasional central government.
The state government will write to sports betting concessionaires to inform them of the decision, added Lim.
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