The Menteri Besar (MB) of Kedah, Dato’ Seri Haji Muhammad Sanusi bin Md Nor today announced that the state will ban the operation of all lottery gaming shops in order to ‘tackle the ills resulting from gambling’. As reported by Free Malaysia Today, Sanusi said the state government plans to do so by ordering the Kedah local councils to not renew the business licences of these shops.
The Kedah MB stressed,
“This is to ensure a Kedah free of gambling, as we all know it has caused the collapse of family institutions and even civilisations, besides resulting in debt problems.”
For illustration purposes.
Sanusi also said that the enforcement of this gambling ban will be in place as long as he has the power to do so as he do not want to be questioned in the afterlife on no doing what he can to curb gambling when he led the state government. Furthermore, he also wants to do so as to no get ‘whacked’ by others for acting on gambling matters.
Sanusi further commented that those who want to buy 4D lottery numbers can do so by going to the nearby state of Penang. This statement by the Kedah MB is the latest in a series of spat between him and the government of Penang which started with disagreements regarding water supply arrangement between the two states.
Besides lottery shops ban, Sanusi also touted curbs on the sale of alcohol in rural parts of Kedah, especially in areas ‘where the demand for such drinks is low’. However, the Kedah MB assured non-Muslims in the state that such bans would not affect them. Sanusi commented,
“The state government also discussed alcohol sale at duty-free stores in Langkawi, where sales of alcoholic beverages are allowed, and at unlicensed stores in the state. We hope they will no longer sell them openly any more (in Kedah). These actions are being taken to ensure Kedahans are always in a sober state of mind,”
The Menteri Besar of Kedah, Dato’ Seri Haji Muhammad Sanusi bin Md Nor.
Sanusi made the announcement at a press conference after the tabling of the 2022 state budget at the Kedah State Legislative Assembly today and hoped that the people of the state would understand these actions that will be taken by the state government.
What do you guys think of Kedah government’s plan of action against lottery shops and the limiting of alcohol sales in the state? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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