Kelantan to review lottery ban

(Bernama) – KOTA BARU, March 17 — After stressing that gambling is against Islamic teachings, Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has made an about-turn.

Now, he wants the state legal adviser to review the big sweep lottery.

Nik Abdul Aziz, who is also PAS spiritual adviser, said the Kelantan government’s stand remained on preserving Islamic teachings, in line with the Federal Constitution.

“Issues arose on the ban of big sweep lottery tickets, which do not need premises for its sale, so the state government is ready to review the matter and allow the state legal adviser to take a look at it from a legal point of view,” he said in a statement read by his press secretary, Ahmad Fadhli, to reporters here today.

Earlier, Nik Abdul Aziz held a meeting with DAP Youth chief Anthony Loke Siew Fook, DAP central committee member Liew Chin Tong, PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali and PKR information chief Dr Mohd Nor Manuty to discuss the gambling issue at his office.

The issue on the banning of lottery and all forms of gambling came up following a raid conducted by the Kota Baru Municipal Council on two bookstores and seizure of lottery tickets last week.

However, the DAP and MCA protested, saying it was against the country’s constitution which allowed welfare lottery among non-Muslims. — Bernama