Najib Denies Awarding Betting Licence to Vincent Tan

(Malaysian Digest) – The Ministry of Finance denied giving a sports betting licence to Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd, a company owned by magnate Tan Sri Vincent in the face of recent reports that the company will be taking wagers for next season’s Barclay’s Premier League.

Finance Minister and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in a written reply in Dewan Rakyat to questions from four MPs, said that the government has yet to conclude its discussions and terms concerning the legalisation of sports betting.

“The government has yet to issue a licence to Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd for bookie operations in Malaysia. The government has also not concluded discussions on the terms and conditions for licensing to Ascot Sports for bookie operations in Malaysia,” he said in the statement, adding that the ministry also said it was still open to feedback from various parties.

Batu MP Tian Chua asked whether the confusion on the matter was brought about by Tan or the government.

“This reply is very shocking because for the past one week, Vincent speaks as if he has the licence. So who is misleading the public?” he said during a press conference at Dewan Rakyat.

Earlier, Tan had that he will donate the entire RM525 million from the sale of the stake to charity in an effort to repress growing resentments over the gaming licence.

The money is proceeds from the 70 percent stake in Ascot Sports that is being sold to Berjaya Corp Berhad which Tan owns.

Opposition leaders have derided at Tan’s gesture and validation for legalising that business.

Last month, the government had re-issued the licence to Tan after the original licence was cancelled by the previous Abdullah administration.

Tan has recently acquired the right to reinstate the licence after he having acquired the licence in 1987. He had “asked the government to take it back” when the venture was failed.