GEORGE TOWN, Nov 25 ― The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) will lodge a police report against Utusan Malaysia over an article alleging the council of approving permits for gambling premises.
The City Mayor Datuk Patahiyah Ismail said the report was defamatory as the city council does not issue gambling licenses.
“Gambling licenses are issued by the Finance Ministry under the federal government, not by us and I was also mentioned in the article,” she said.
In the Malay language newspaper, a former PAS councillor who was sacked last year, Iszuree Ibrahim, was quoted as saying he was sacked because he had questioned the increase in permit approvals by the council for gambling premises.
Iszuree reportedly claimed that there were only 20 entertainment outlets along Penang Road previously but now there are 120 applications for entertainment outlets including gambling premises, pubs and massage centers along the same stretch.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who had called the press conference on this, said the allegations in the article were all false.
“The council will lodge a police report over this tomorrow,” he said.
State executive councillor for local government Chow Kon Yeow confirmed that there are 20 entertainment outlets registered along Penang Road.
“We can see that there are no 120 entertainment outlets along that road and yes, we have received applications for approvals for businesses along that road but not all were for entertainment outlets, some are for electrical shops, clothing store and shops,” he said.
