DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said parties such as MCA and MIC in the peninsula and others from Sabah and Sarawak should speak up against the Kedah government’s decision to stop the renewal of business licences for four-digit lottery outlets, which effectively was a ban.
He said they should get the ban revoked at the Cabinet meeting to prove that they can stop PAS from pushing for extremist policies that violate the rights of individuals.
“DAP agrees that there should be restrictions imposed such as prohibiting Muslims and addressing the social problems involved. But it should not infringe on the basic rights of others.
“This hasty decision by Kedah without any consultation with the stakeholders has not only ignored the cultural diversity, customary lifestyle and business practices that have gone on since Merdeka but it also affects those who have invested in legal gaming outlets,” he said in a statement today.
The former finance minister said a gaming ban would encourage illegal gambling operators to expand their operations, resulting in a revenue loss for the government.
He said Kedah’s move was linked to PAS’ extremist approach in gathering support for its candidates in the Melaka state election.
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