The decision to award the sports betting licence to Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd is not final, said Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, hinting that the licence may yet be revoked

He added that while the government has stipulated that it will renew the old sports betting licence to the company, the government is still waiting for feedback from the public and also looking at police efforts to try and control illegal sports betting.

NONE Speaking at a press conference in Parliament this morning, Hishammuddin ( right ) explained that while the licence was already tentatively approved, it is not yet up for implementation until September.

"We are looking to upgrade our efforts to combat illegal gambling... if this succeeds, the government may consider not to continue the licence given to Ascot Sports."

Meanwhile, Bernama today reports Hishammuddin as saying state governments must stop speculation and work with the Home Ministry to tackle the football betting licence issue.

He said states must start offering new ideas to assist the government to make a better with regard to the issue.

"Rather than making noise from the outside, state governments can offer their suggestions and ideas to overcome black economy.

"The betting licence was approved a long time ago but it was made to look like it was only recently approved.

Negative picture

"They have also painted a negative picture saying the government encourages gambling," he told reporters after receiving a delegation from United Nation's (UN) Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) led by El Hadji Maliek Sow from Senegal, at his office in Parliament today.    

"People must understand that the licence was issued a long time ago and the Home Ministry is doing all it can to tackle the problem. One initiative was to appoint Bukit Aman CID director Mohd Bakri Zinin and Commercial Crimes investigations director Koh Hong Sun to set up a special task force.

    

"The issue is closely related to black economy involving an estimated RM10 billion and related to illegal activities like human trafficking, illegal money laundering or Ah Long," he said.

    

So, apart from increasing surveillance, monitoring and preventive measures, the state governments must also support such efforts by coming out recommendations to overcome the issue, he said.

    

Asked whether the government would be required to compensate those involved if the licence was withdrawn, Hishammuddin said: "The question of compensation does not arise as the licence was issued a long time ago."

    

The issue of legalising football betting hit a brick wall when Selangor, Penang and Kedah refused to allow such activities in their states although Ascot Sports was issued a sports betting licence by the government.

    

WGAD, a body mandated to investigate complaints of arbitrary deprivation of liberty is on a 12-day visit to study the system and procedures enforced during arbitrary detention in Malaysia.

    

The four-member delegation will visit prisons, immigration detention camps, drug rehabilitation camps.

    

"Their presence here shows that Malaysia (has) always observed human rights procedures in line with international requirements," he said.