Three Chinese traders are suing the PAS-led Kelantan government for imposing a state-wide ban on the sale of lottery tickets earlier this year.
The trio wants the court to bar the state government and the Kota Baru municipal council from making any laws related to all forms of gaming, including banning the sale of Big Sweep lottery tickets in Kelantan.
In their originating summons filed last June 6, the three businessmen named as Wong Meng Yit, 47, Lee Khim Haw alias Lee Khim Hwa, 58, and Gan Han Chuan, 44, said neither the state nor local governments were authorised to impose any rule on any gaming activity.
They added that such laws could only be decided by Parliament.
MCA central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker told The Malaysian Insider he was part of a 10-man legal team representing the traders and that the suit was to show the PAS administration practised double standards.
He linked the Kelantan government’s gaming ban to the recent Kedah government’s decision to shut down 13 types of entertainment outlets, including karaoke joints, during the Ramadan fasting month.
Both state governments are led by PAS mentri besar.
“Why is the Kelantan government not able to compromise like Kedah? Is it just because there are more Chinese voters in Kedah?” Ti challenged.
The Kedah government under Datuk Azizan Abdul Razak reversed its blanket ban to block only Muslims from patronising entertainment centres during Ramadan.
The civil suit had been brought up for case management earlier today before High Court judge Datuk V.T. Singham who then ordered it transferred to its appeals and special powers division.
Their lawyer, Lee Kien Han, told reporters the suit has again been set for case management on August 17 as the Kelantan government, represented by its state legal advisor, had raised a preliminary objection and wanted it heard in Kota Baru.
The Kelantan government had been heavily criticised in March this year, ahead of the Kerdau and Merlimau twin by-elections, when word of the ban leaked.
The authorities later clarified that the lottery tickets could be sold in the state, but only at business premises licensed for gaming activities.
comments
If I am a chinese and I do not want my loved ones to gamble away their money? Welfare lottery? Where does the money goes to ? Wo is benefitting from this money collected? Maybe I would like to suggest to Nik Aziz to allow only BN members to purchse all this lottery tickets cos they are the one who is benefitting from all the money collected.
Another "sadiwara" to play hero...to try and demonised PAS and drive a wedge with DAP. Malaysian particularly Chinese can see what the MCA stand for on important issues affecting the people when the Deputy President of the party can lie through his teeth even when overwhelming evidence are available on videos that the Riot police have shoot chemical lace water and tear gas into the Tung Sin Hospital compound just to please the UMNO master. The days of playing lab - dog party are gone and if MCA still don't realise this fact then they will be wipe out in the 13 GE.
Tua Lan Ker, if MCA still wants to remain relevent, do something useful for the chinese. For example, fight for the increase in number of chinese schools and scholarship. We certainly do not want you to fight for more gambling outlets. Is MCA also fighting for the increase of number of massage parlours and watering holes? MCA is both irrelevent and pathetic. You are no hero to the chinese but just reinforcing the notion that gambling is part of chinese culture when it is not.
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