Kedah fails to appeal court ruling on gambling licenses

The Kedah state government has been unsuccessful in its bid to appeal a Federal Court ruling concerning gambling premises licenses. A three-judge panel, led by Datuk Rhodzariah Bujang, dismissed Kedah's application for leave to appeal a decision that had previously halted the issuance and renewal of gambling licenses within the state.

This outcome upholds a prior ruling that favored gambling operators who challenged the state's move to cease issuing and renewing licenses. In 2022, the Kedah government decided against further issuing or renewing these licenses, leading to existing ones not being extended upon expiry. Several gambling companies contested this decision, arguing the state lacked the jurisdiction to prohibit the licenses.

The Court of Appeal had previously rejected Kedah's appeal, deeming it without merit and upholding the High Court's decision in favor of the betting companies. The Federal Court panel found that the legal questions raised by Kedah did not meet the threshold required under Section 96 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964.

"We dismiss the appeal application as we are not satisfied that the high threshold under Section 96(a) has been met," stated Justice Rhodzariah, who sat with Justices Collin Lawrence Sequerah and Azmi Ariffin. The court also ordered Kedah to pay RM50,000 in costs to the six respondent betting companies. The ruling effectively cancels the ban on renewing business licenses for these premises, allowing the operators to reapply.