Kedah to challenge court ruling on gambling licences at Federal Court
Kedah will appeal a court decision upholding the legality of gambling licenses to the Federal Court, citing the will of the people.Summary
Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi announced the state will challenge the Court of Appeal’s recent ruling that deemed its ban on renewing gambling licenses unconstitutional. The state government maintains its position aligns with the mandate of its voters and its core values. Sanusi expressed disappointment with the 2-1 decision, which affirmed that gambling regulations fall under the Finance Ministry’s jurisdiction. He highlighted that the state acted within its powers under the Local Government Act 1976, but this was disputed in court by lawyers representing gambling operators, some from the DAP. The case echoes similar policies in Kelantan and Terengganu, and Sanusi believes the ruling raises questions about the implementation of Islamic values within the existing legal framework, as the current laws limit the application of religious principles regarding activities like gambling. He also questioned the interpretation of state authority over local councils.
(Source：Malay Mail)