Deputy Finance Minister Chan Kong Choy today dismissed reports that a mini-casino is currently under construction at the Tioman Island Resort.

"The licence, which is only for slot machines, was approved some 20, 30 years ago," he told malaysiakini in the Parliament lobby this afternoon.

Chan refused to elaborate on this matter, as well as on the status of the Bukit Tinggi casino which suspended its slot machine operations last month, pending the outcome of the Finance Ministry's investigations into the terms and conditions of licence.

On June 12, malaysiakini quoted PAS member of Parliament for Kubang Kerian Husam Musa as saying that a mini-casino was under construction in Tioman Island.

Husam claimed the federal government had given approval under the Common Gaming Houses Ordinance 1953, based on information published on the ministry's website and in The Star .

Gambling industry

During his adjournment speech in the Dewan Rakyat today, Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi (PAS-Kuala Kedah) questioned the government for giving contracts in the gambling industry to "leaders close to Umno and BN".

He cited Genting, Magnum and Berjaya Sports Toto as examples of such companies.

"Obviously the gambling industry in this country has been manipulated by tauke-tauke who are close to BN and Umno. Are these tauke-tauke prepare to channel millions of ringgit to Umno in the election to topple

PAS or BA in Kelantan and Terengganu?" he asked.

He also took the companies to task for appointing many former high-ranking police officers to their boards of directors.

Syed Azman named former Inspector-General (IGP) of Police Hanif Omar and former deputy IGP Mohd Amin Osman as being on the Genting board of directors.

Former deputy IGP Jaafar Abdul and former Malaysia Interpol secretariat chief Mohamed Salleh Gomu are with the Berjaya Sports Toto board, he said.

"Why are so many former high-ranking police officers who are also Muslims sitting on these boards...are there laws to prevent Muslims from becoming involved in the gambling industry?" he asked.

MB reprimanded

Syed Azman also criticised a statement by Pahang Menteri Besar Mohd Adnan Yaakob, who had claimed the gambling industry had originated from China decades ago to stop the Chinese community from smoking opium.

"This justification (for issuance of licences in Pahang) is shameful, insensitive and insults the Chinese. Is the government implying that Malaysian Chinese favour gambling and that it is part of their culture?" he asked.

Replying, Chan said the government has advised the companies not to appoint Muslims to their boards of directors.

He also said the reason the government has issued licence to these companies was to control illegal gambling.

"Under the licensing conditions, the companies must abide by strict rules and restrictions if they want to stay in business," Chan said.

Meanwhile, Husam has released a new book on Malaysia's gambling industry. This includes several set of documents that reveal gambling operations, including the alleged casino activities in Bukit Tinggi and Tioman Island.

The 65-page book entitled 'Malaysia Darul Kasino' is his second recent publication. The first looked at government audit reports.