Najib says no to football betting licence
By Adib Zalkapli, The Malaysian Insider
Datuk Seri Najib Razak capitulated to popular public opinion tonight when he announced the government will not issue a football betting licence, weeks after tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan said his Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd had received approval for an old licence.
“After taking into account various views, we are of the opinion that the majority did not agree the decision to issue the license to Ascot Sports,” he said after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting here.
“The government therefore decided that the license will not be issued,” said the finance minister adding that Ascot Sports has been informed of the decision.
He said the withdrawal was supported by members of the Umno supreme council.
Najib said the government had earlier agreed to issue the sports betting licence but with strict condition such as banning Muslim involvement in the activity.
On whether Ascot Sports would be compensated Najib said there is no such requirement in the law.
“Under the act, the minister of finance can withdraw anytime,” said Najib, declining to say when the decision was made.
He also hoped that Barisan Nasional (BN) component party members such as MCA and MIC who have supported legalised sports betting to accept the government’s decision.
Several Barisan Nasional (BN) parties had supported the move but Umno Johor, Perak and Youth wing opposed the licence saying the social cost outweighed the possible tax revenue.
Tan’s listed Berjaya Corporation Berhad had announced the approval in a filing to Bursa Malaysia last May 12 but Najib denied it in Parliament on June 7.
Pakatan Rakyat governments in Penang, Selangor and Kedah said they will not approve business licences for football betting although Tan said he will try to persuade them.
He had promised to donate the RM525 million for his share of Ascot Sports sold to Berjaya Corp to his own charity, Better Malaysia Foundation.
Apart from saying that football bets will be offered through the telephone and available at 220 out of the 680 Sports Toto outlets which are not Muslim majority areas, Tan said operations would begin after the current FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa.
