Johor Umno’s opposition to the sports betting licence granted to the Berjaya Group will be given due consideration, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

"Johor Umno has its own views on the issue. The leadership will take them into consideration," said Muhyiddin, who is party deputy president, in a brief reply at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

azlan Last week, Johor Umno liaison chief Abdul Ghani Othman said the state party divisions had decided in a meeting that they were against all forms of betting, including the proposed sports betting to be run by the Berjaya Group-owned Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd.

Abdul Ghani, who is also Johor menteri besar, said the Johor Umno decision was based on the reaction gathered from the people in the state.

"The people view it as a form of gambling and I believe those involved will listen to the reactions of the people," he said.

The sports betting controversy has put the ruling Barisan Nasional in a quandary.

The government has argued that the legalisation of sports betting will help curb illegal gambling activities in the country that runs into billions of ringgit.

However, there has been stringent opposition from Pakatan Rakyat on the issue resulting in a decision to put the issuance of the sports-betting licence on hold.