Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng told reporters to quiz the previous government regarding the issuance of a gambling licence for tycoon Vincent Tan.

The DAP leader was asked on the Pakatan Harapan government's decision not to reissue the licence for Tan's Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd.

"The previous government approved it,” he replied.

“(You) should be asking the previous government why they approved the licence," he added when met at the Parliament lobby today.

In a parliamentary reply yesterday, Lim, in response to a question from Ismail Mohamed Said (BN-Kuala Krau), said the government decided not to re-issue the licence.

He said former premier Najib Abdul Razak's administration had issued a sports betting licence to Ascot on Jan 13, 2010. However, this was withdrawn on Oct 5 the same year.

After Harapan formed the federal government, speculation arose that it would re-issue the licence to Tan since the business tycoon is a close associate of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In 2010, Najib had defended issuing the licence as a means to curb illegal gambling activities in the country.

The decision courted backlash and was later overturned following a unanimous vote against it by the Umno supreme council.