KANGAR: A Perlis state assemblyman has questioned the lack of transparency in the state government’s move to ban gaming.

Indera Kayangan state assemblyman Gan Ay Ling said while the state government had yet to decide on its policy to ban gaming, the licenses of gaming outlets had not been renewed.

“The issue of shutting down gaming outlets was raised in the last state assembly sitting. The reply given by Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli then was that there was no decision.

“Maybe the state government is worried the plan to ban gaming outlets would be opposed by the Chinese community or non-Muslims. So it decides to carry out the policy silently. But this is against the spirit of democracy,” she said.

Mohd Shukri said in an earlier interview with Sin Chew Daily that he would raise the matter in the state exco meeting.

Gan said she would raise the issue at the next state assembly meeting in August.

Gaming outlets in Perlis have received notices from the municipal council that their licenses would not be renewed.

While the issue has yet to be finalized at the state assembly, Gan said the municipal council had already started the action of not renewing gaming licenses.

She urged the state government to be transparent in implementing a new policy.