Malaysia’s only casino faces threat of closure due to rise of Islamist party
Resort World Genting, Malaysia’s only casino operator, is now threatened with closure due to the growing political influence of the Muslim party Parti Islam Semalaysia (PAS). Since 1969, the Genting Group has been operating under casino licenses granted by the Malaysian government, which must be renewed every three months. However, the future of the casino has now become uncertain as PAS, which controls four of Malaysia’s 13 states and is targeting the Pahang province, home to Genting Highland Resort, for potential control at the next general election by early 2028.
PAS’s Position On Gambling:
At the party’s annual gathering, Andansura Rabu, PAS’s deputy director for pahang, reiterated the party’s stance against gambling banned in Islam, saying a Fortune report via Yahoo Finance said: “Gambling is detrimental, so we must stop gambling.” The statement reflects the party’s intention to reshape the country’s leisure and accommodation environment by aligning its national policy with the religious beliefs of the Muslim majority in Malaysia.
The conflict over casino operations delves into a broader jurisdiction conflict between the state and the federal government in Malaysia. While PAS exerts influence at the state level, the federal government has the authority to issue casino and gaming licenses. The split has led to legal challenges, as seen by Keda State’s attempt to close licensed gaming stores, which are now entangled in legal disputes over state and federal jurisdiction.
Genting Casino is a significant revenue source for Malaysia, contributing significantly through taxes on gambling revenue and tariffs on casino machines. In 2023, Genting Group reported revenue of as much as $1.4 billion in Malaysia’s leisure and accommodation sector, much of which came from gaming revenue. The possibility of casino closures could have far-reaching economic implications for national revenue as well as the local economy.
Political landscape and future prospects:
Malaysia’s political environment has been heavily impacted by the heightened status of the PAS, especially after it became the single largest party in the House of Commons after the 2022 general election. 바카라사이트 추천 The party’s conservative agenda, including its stance against gambling, has pressured Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other politicians to adopt more conservative positions to appeal to Muslim voters. This dynamic has been further highlighted by Anwar’s dismissal of rumours about new casinos and his focus on alternative economic drivers such as energy transition and AI.
Malaysia is considering the possibility of closing its only casino, but its Southeast Asian neighbors are moving in the opposite direction. The Philippines is pushing ahead with plans for a new casino project that has the potential to overtake Singapore as Asia’s second-largest gambling center, while Thailand is also working on introducing casinos.