Genting closes casino this evening
Editor's note: The opening seven paragraphs of this story has been updated.
Resorts World Genting (RWG) will be temporarily closing its casino from today onwards until further notice.
This followed allegations that a Covid-19 cluster in Kedah was linked to a tour group that visited the resort in Bentong, Pahang.
In a statement, RWG said that apart from the casino closure, the rest of the resort will limit operating hours to...
Editor's note: The opening seven paragraphs of this story has been updated.
Resorts World Genting (RWG) will be temporarily closing its casino from today onwards until further notice.
This followed allegations that a Covid-19 cluster in Kedah was linked to a tour group that visited the resort in Bentong, Pahang.
In a statement, RWG said that apart from the casino closure, the rest of the resort will limit operating hours to 8am and 8pm from tomorrow until June 7.
"This applies to all our hotels, food and beverage outlets, shopping malls, retail outlets and other facilities. Some of our offerings may not be available during this period.
"The casino will be temporarily closed from today until further notice," said the company at around 3.30pm today.
A Genting casino staff told Malaysiakini that they were only informed of the closure in the afternoon and that the casino will be off-limits from 5pm onwards.
On May 19, the Kedah exco member in charge of health and local government, Dr Mohd Hayati Othman, said 16 people who tested positive for Covid-19 were traced to the tour group. This cluster is called "Dah Lengkuas".
This morning, a casino employee told Malaysiakini that there were still punters in the facility despite claims by Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob that he had ordered it shut on Friday.
The worker said that the number of visitors at the Genting Resort was down 80 percent since the start of the nationwide movement control order (MCO) on May 12.
The part of the casino where the staff member works served around 20 people yesterday and 10 this morning.
"I did talk to some customers (yesterday). They said they could stop by here using letters issued by the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti).
"But those who came this morning, I believe, are our hotel's long-term guests," the employee added.
According to the staff member, it was difficult to enforce physical distancing at the gambling table.
"Although staff members comply with the rules, close contacts between the customers are unavoidable during the games.
"My colleagues and I are quite worried about the infection risk but nothing has been done so far by the management. We feel scared," the employee added.
The source was unable to provide any photos of the gambling floor because they were constantly monitored by CCTV.
Malaysiakini has repeatedly contacted the Genting group and the Finance Ministry for comments to no avail. The Finance Ministry is the regulator for all gambling outlets.
In a text message reply to Malaysiakini, Ismail said that the National Security Council (NSC) decided during a special meeting last Friday that the casino had to close.
However, he referred Malaysiakini to the Finance Ministry on other queries.
Ismail said he told the police to look into the matter after being informed by the news portal that the casino was still operating.
Previously, the government had allowed tourists to visit Genting Highlands as part of a "travel bubble" to boost tourism. This had resulted in Covid-19 clusters.
Meanwhile, a law enforcement source told Malaysiakini that they could not enforce the law on the casino as only the Finance Ministry had jurisdiction.
"You should ask them. What can I say? It has always been like that," said the source.
However, the source's account is contradictory to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, which allows the health director-general to designate its officers or other law enforcement agencies to order premises to close for the prevention of an infectious disease.
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