No plans to open casino in Pulau Tioman

Pahang MB: No plans to open casino in Pulau Tioman

Pahang state government has no plans to consider applications to open a casino in Pulau Tioman, near Rompin here.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said such matter was never been discussed and would never be given consideration even if there were parties interested to apply for the casino licence there.

“We will never consider or have plans to offer gambling or casino licence on Pulau Tioman. We will never look into such applications and we hope the state government had made its stand clear on the matter,” he said when replying to a supplementary question by Sim Chon Siang (PKR-Teruntum) at the 14th state legislative assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang here today.

Sim had earlier asked the state government on the proposal to offer casino licence to interested operators to start the business on the island and the status of the Pulau Tioman airport in a move to lure more visitors to the island.

Meanwhile, Wan Rosdy said plans to build a new airport on the island was still being discussed between the state government, federal government and East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC).

He said a meeting was held between Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as well as menteri besar of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor early last month but there had yet to be any decision on the matter.

“Johor Menteri Besar (Datuk Osman Sapian) presented a proposal (to build an airport in Mersing, Johor) during the meeting but it was rejected as the priority is now to build an airport here (Pulau Tioman).

“However, there is no decision yet on the implementation of the project. It (construction of a new airport) might be carried out later,” he said.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~