Asian Economic News: No gambling, says Malaysian Islamic state gov't

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 29 Kyodo As part of its Islamization program, the fundamentalist Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) has given two months notice to all gaming outlets in the state of Terengganu to shut down their operations, official news agency Bernama reported Wednesday.

The one-month-old PAS government said it would not renew their licenses that officially expire Jan. 1, 2000, but a two-month grace period would be given to allow the operators to settle affairs with employees and other matters.

PAS took over the oil-rich east coast state of Terengganu from Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's National Front (BN) coalition following the Nov. 29 general election.

BN had ruled the state for 40 years before its upset by PAS.

Immediately after PAS assumed power, newly appointed state Chief Minister Abdul Hadi Awang announced that the state government would ban all gaming outlets, sale of alcoholic drinks and entertainment centers like karaoke clubs.

"This is to say that Islamic laws are the highest of all laws," Hadi said. "It is our duty after being given the mandate by the people to ensure Islam is above everything else."

The gaming outlets deal with four- to six-digit number betting games popular among the ethnic Chinese.

Ethnic Chinese make up about 10% of the state population of almost a million people. The rest are mainly ethnic Malays.