Johor Umno rejects any form of betting in sports, including the much talked about football betting, said Johor Umno liaison chief Abdul Ghani Othman.

abdul ghani othman bangsa malaysia 061106 talking Speaking to reporters after emerging from a liaison meeting which he chaired in Johor Bahru today, Abdul Ghani ( left ) said the decision was following reaction gathered from the people of Johor.

"We (Johor Umno) had received a clear reaction and mandate from the people which was to reject any form of betting in sports.

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

Abdul Ghani who is also the Johor menteri besar said he would submit the decision (rejection to any form of betting in sports), to the Supreme Council soon.

The government had recently said issuing a licence for betting during the World Cup football finals would help illegal gambling activities in the country that runs into billions of ringgit.

Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek Hussein had said that if the

government failed to issue a football betting licence, the authorities would not be able to curb illegal gambling activities effectively.

- Bernama