KOTA BARU: Pas is confident that Perlis will become the next Islamic party-ruled state to impose a ban on gaming and lottery activities.
Pas vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said he was informed that the Perlis government was studying the technical process of implementing the ban before making a decision.
"The decision by the Perlis government to look into this process is a good move.
"By doing this, the state will follow in the footsteps of Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah.
"We (in Kelantan) have imposed the ban ever since we took over the state in the 1990s and have been receiving good responses from everyone, including non-Muslims.
"The non-Muslims, especially Chinese wives, praised us and were happy that they could finally save their family's financial situation," he said.
The Panchor assemblyman told this to reporters after handing over a new house to a poor family here today.
Mohd Amar said he believed that there are Malays still involved in gambling activities outside of Kelantan.
He was commenting on Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli's remark yesterday saying that the Perlis Perikatan Nasional (PN) government is set to emulate its northern neighbour Kedah in implementing the ban on gaming and lottery activities.
Mohd Shukri said the move is being planned but added that the administration needs time to study all aspects before enforcing the ban.
It was reported that from Jan 1, legal gaming and lottery outlets in Kedah effectively ceased operations following the implementation of the state government's ban.
Kedah's gaming ban follows a similar decision in the Pas-led states of Kelantan and Terengganu.