KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has hit back at critics branding him a “tauke judi”, or gambling boss, saying his government had instead cut the number of special lottery draws from 22 a year to eight.
Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported that Anwar, who is also finance minister, said the reduction showed his administration had taken steps to curb gaming activities.
“You held 22 special draws, but I reduced it to eight. Is it enough? No. But why am I being insulted for this?
“Before you attack me, you should look at yourself in the mirror first,” he said at the launch of the Skim Usahawan Bangkit Permatang Pauh in Penanti today.
The number of special lottery draws had been increased from eight to 22 a year under administrations between 2020 and 2022, before Anwar’s government reduced it to eight.
His remarks appeared to be in response to recent criticism from Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor after the Federal Court dismissed the state government’s bid to overturn a ruling preventing it from refusing to renew licences for pool betting and lottery operators.
The case stemmed from Kedah’s move to effectively end licensed gambling in the state by refusing to renew the operators’ business licences.
Sanusi said the decision on whether gambling activities would be allowed in Kedah now rested with Anwar.
He also warned that Kedahans would “curse” the prime minister if gambling activities were allowed to resume in the state.
Date: 29 August, 2026 12:09 pm
Source: Malay Mail
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