JOHOR BARU: There will not be a casino opening its doors in Johor as claimed in a recent news report, says Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
Describing the report as an act of sabotage, the Mentri Besar said the state government has never been involved in or referred to for such a thing and had never even received an invitation to discuss it.
“News alleging that a casino will be opened in Forest City in Johor Baru has been making the rounds.
"The Johor government would like to stress that no casino will be opened or operated in Johor.
“With the support of the Federal Government, Johor is beefing up efforts to boost and improve its economy so that quality, high-skilled job opportunities could be made available for Bangsa Johor.
“As such, the rumour that has been spread is seen as an act of sabotage with an ill intention to taint the name of Forest City and Johor,” he said in a statement here on Friday (April 26).
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Onn Hafiz added that three casinos that previously operated in Johor had been shut down since the time of Almarhum Sultan Sir Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar.
“His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has also decreed that there should be no casinos in Johor. This clearly shows Johor's stance on the matter.
“With this firm statement, the state government hopes that this issue will not be prolonged further,” he said.
He added that the state government is confident that the developments of the Special Financial Zone and Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone will breathe new life into Forest City and boost the economy.
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Meanwhile, Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim commended Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his prompt response in dismissing the Blomberg news report.
“I would not recommend the three writers of the report to be issued summonses for spreading slander about Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“However, I believe that the Prime Minister’s office should write an official protest letter to Blomberg so that this does not happen again,” he said.
He said it was also impractical to investigate the news company and writer involved under the Sedition Act or the Communication and Multimedia Act.
“Such a suggestion is not practical as the writers are likely not Malaysians and are living overseas. Similarly, Blomberg’s operations are outside of Malaysia’s power,” he said.
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Hassan also questioned the intention of the news report, adding that it was also an indirect slander of the King of Malaysia, who is also the Sultan of Johor.
On Thursday (April 25), Anwar dismissed a news report that Putrajaya is mulling a second casino licence for Forest City.
“On the casino licence, it is untrue...That’s a lie,” he told reporters in a curt reply at the Madani Muhibbah Aidilfitri in Putrajaya on Thursday (April 25).
Bloomberg had reported that Berjaya founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan and Genting Group’s Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay were in early discussions with the government on opening a casino in Forest City, Johor.
The report, quoting sources, said the casino project would revive the RM478.35 bil Forest City project.
