KUANTAN: The hilltop casino operations in Genting Highlands will temporarily close beginning midnight.
Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Abdul Jalil Hassan said this was in compliance with the tighter Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) under Movement Control Order (MCO 3.0) which begins tomorrow.
He also said the operators would not be compounded.
"The operators will not be issued any compound as they were previously granted permission to operate and the tighter restrictions on social movement and economic sectors will only begin tomorrow (Tuesday).
"Yes, the casino was still operating today and SOP compliance monitoring team from the Bentong police headquarters has been deployed to ensure the operators comply with the MCO 3.0 SOP.
"All operations involving the Genting Highlands casino will close at the stroke of midnight."
Earlier today, a source said the casino comes under the purview of the Finance Ministry and not the state government.
"The local authorities are only responsible for issuing the premises' business licence while the ministry provides the casino licence.
"To date, the district health office did not report any positive Covid-19 case among the Genting Highlands casino staff and there was no justification to close the premises," said the source.
The casino came under the spotlight followed allegations that a Covid-19 cluster in Kedah was linked to a tour group that visited the holiday resort last month.
On Saturday, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, was quoted saying he was unaware the casino in Genting was operating and claimed that he had ordered for its closure on Friday (May 21).
He had announced the new restrictions under MCO 3.0 during a press conference on May 22.