Big Sweep : 'Now I'm Angry' - Karpal

Malaysia-Instinct.com

The Kelantan government should refer to the Attorney-General before imposing a ban on the sale of lottery tickets in the state, said DAP chairman Karpal Singh.

Decisions cannot be made based on opinions, he added.

Karpal expressed shock over the announcement by the legal adviser of Kelantan that the state government’s move to ban the sale of lottery tickets was within its rights.

He said Datuk Azlan Abdul Halim was obviously ill-advised.

“What is more intriguing is that he has not given a reason for making the announcement.

“An opinion without reasons amounts to nought,” Karpal said in a statement yesterday.

It was earlier reported that Kelantan’s ban on the sale of Big Sweep lottery tickets will remain as Azlan had advised the state government that it was acting within its legal rights.

Karpal called on Azlan to seek advice from the Attorney-General before embarking on opinions.

“The sale of lottery tickets is not illegal.

“In fact, the matter comes under Federal law – and Federal law has not banned the sale of lottery tickets.

“I would advise the PAS-led government in Kelantan to lift the ban, which is not justified and has caused undue anxiety and concern among the people of Kelantan,” he said.

PAS is adamant in going ahead with the ban on the sale of Big Sweep lottery tickets while the MCA remains firm in wanting to haul the Kelantan government to court over its decision.

Kelantan Local Government, Culture, Arts and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan announced yesterday that the ban would stay as state legal adviser Datuk Azlan Abdul Halim found that the state government had not breached any law.

“The legal adviser concurs with the state government’s stand.

“It would be illegal to sell the lottery even beyond business premises licensed by local governments.

“Azlan is of the opinion that the move to ban the sale of the tickets is within the legal rights of the state,” Takiyuddin told reporters after a state executive council meeting at Kota Darul Naim yesterday.

The lottery ban had raised the ire of PAS’ Pakatan Rakyat partners, the Chinese community and the MCA.

In February, two shops here were raided and the owners slapped with summonses for selling the Big Sweep tickets.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, who said the Kelantan government had infringed the rights of the Chinese, most of whom buy the lottery tickets, has asked the party’s lawyers to take the matter to court for alleged breach of Federal laws.

On March 16, Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who is also PAS spiritual adviser, asked the state legal adviser to interpret the laws concerning the sale of lottery tickets to appease critics, the DAP and PKR.

Nik Aziz has also agreed to meet Dr Chua on April 3 to explain his government’s stand on the ban.