DAP lawmaker calls on Kedah to accept Malaysia court ruling on gambling
Ramkarpal Singh urged Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor to comply with the Federal Court decision that overturned the state’s policy on gambling premises licences.
Malaysia.- DAP lawmaker Ramkarpal Singh has urged Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor to accept the Federal Court’s decision on gambling licences and focus instead on preventing Muslims from taking part in gambling. Ramkarpal said the ruling should be respected after the Federal Court last week dismissed the Kedah government’s application for leave to appeal a decision that declared its policy of stopping the issuance and renewal of gambling-related business licences unlawful.
The Federal Court’s decision followed a December 2025 Court of Appeal ruling, which found that Kedah had exceeded its constitutional powers by imposing a state-wide policy on an issue reserved for the federal government. Sanusi has said that the state government respects the Federal Court decision and is seeking further legal advice on its implications. He also said Kedah must avoid taking any action that could amount to contempt of court.
Ramkarpal said Sanusi should not look for ways to circumvent the ruling. He argued that licensed gambling is legal in Malaysia and that licences for gambling-related businesses are permitted under the Federal Constitution. Instead of seeking to restrict licensed operators, he said the Kedah government should work with federal agencies to address gambling among Muslims.
He also warned that attempts to restrict legal gambling could increase activity in the illegal market, including online gambling operated by individuals or criminal syndicates.
