SEPANG (April 26): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Friday suggested all parties mentioned in a recent report alleging that the government is planning to issue a licence for a casino in Forest City, Johor, to take necessary action against the foreign news agency.
“Those who are mentioned [in the report] must take the necessary action,” he told reporters after performing Friday prayers at the Malaysia Airlines Islamic Centre here.
The prime minister said this when asked whether the government would request the New York-based news agency to retract the news report, or proceed with legal action.
On Thursday, Anwar strongly denied the news report, which stated that the government is mulling a second casino licence for Forest City after Genting Highlands.
The prime minister described the report as being untrue and a lie.
“There’s no such thing. [The issue of] the casino licence is a hoax. [It is] not true,” he said.
The news agency alleged that Berjaya Corp Bhd founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun and Genting Bhd chairman Tan Sri Lim Kok Tay were in early discussions with the government on opening a casino in Forest City.
The report, quoting sources, said the casino project would revive the RM478.35 billion Forest City project.