“There is no need for Malaysia to venture into the casino business,” Anwar said. “We are focusing on digital transformation, energy transformation, artificial intelligence and we believe that this will be enough to move the country forward.”
The report, which quoted people aware of the matter, said Anwar had discussed the thought with the founding father of Berjaya Corp. Vincent Tan and Lim Kok Thay of Genting Group. Malaysia’s King, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, was also represented, Bloomberg reported.
Anwar later said he had no plans to license a casino in Forest City and denounced the report as a “lie.” Tan and Lim denied participating in such a gathering.
Anwar said Tuesday that he reacted strongly to the report since it showed disrespect to the king, but added that “nobody has been arrested” and it was time to “move on.”
Malaysian authorities have charged several people for making seditious comments on social media and in a non-public WhatsApp group in reference to the casino report.
Malaysia has granted just one casino license, which was granted to Genting in 1969. According to a report by UOB-Kay Hian Holdings Ltd., it contributed as much as 5 billion ringgit ($1.1 billion) annually to government revenues before the pandemic. , a broker based in Singapore.
Casinos have been controversial in Muslim-majority Malaysia. Following the publication of the Bloomberg report, Johor Prime Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi said that no casinos could be opened or allowed to operate within the state.
The Government of Qatar is the guarantor of the Qatar Economic Forum, powered by Bloomberg.
