PADANG BESAR: The Perlis government will carry out studies before deciding on whether to cease issuing licences for gambling outlets, including 4D outlets, in the state.
Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli said the state government would hold talks with the relevant stakeholders in carrying out the studies.
"Please give us the chance to carry out the studies from time to time and InsyaAllah, we will decide on the policy later.
"We will continue discussing with the stakeholders and decide on the matter after that.
"Hence, at the moment I do not want to state any opinion either A or B on this issue because we need to decide on it collectively," he said after attending the launching of Hydroponic Agriculture Project at the state Agriculture Department in Bukit Temiang, Beseri here today.
Shukri is the first non-Barisan Nasional menteri besar in Perlis after Perikatan Nasional (PN) won 14 out of 15 state seats during the 15th General Election (GE15) on Nov 24.
Prior to this, all Pas-led state governments in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu had stopped renewing operating licences for 4D gambling outlets.
Following the formation of the Perlis PN government, the state has been under pressure to adopt a similar policy.
In November 2021, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor announced the state government's decision to neither approve new gambling licences nor renew existing once once they expire.
He had also announced that the state government would impose stricter regulations for liquor sales in areas with low market demand.
However, the gambling outlets were allowed to resume operations until the end of this year.
This was after the Finance Ministry renewed the operators' licences until Dec 31, prior to the announcement made by Sanusi.