The Johor state government has not received any application or proposal to open a casino in the state to date, said Johor Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

He dismissed allegations that a casino would be opened at a hotel in the city as disseminated through the Internet as 'mere mischievous writing'.

"I do not know where the news came from, it suddenly emerged but as far as I know, all casino licences are controlled by the federal government and not by the state," he said after attending a schooling assistance programme organised by Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB) at Mydin supermarket in Nusajaya today.

He said should there be an application to open such a centre, the federal and state governments would carry out their responsibilities in looking at the matter in greater detail.

Nonetheless, Mohamed Khaled said Iskandar Malaysia would be more selective even though investors are welcome to invest in areas outside of the regional development site.

- Bernama