Kedah seeks legal path to maintain gambling restrictions despite court ruling

Kedah's political leadership is working to find a constitutionally sound approach to preserve the state's long-standing prohibition on gambling after a Federal Court ruling that potentially challenges the ban's enforcement. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor indicated that state lawyers are reviewing the court's decision to identify compliant pathways forward. The assessment aims to balance the state government's policy objectives with its legal obligations, ensuring it does not expose itself to contempt of court proceedings. Sanusi's comments suggest the state is not abandoning its gambling restrictions but rather seeking to implement them through alternative legal mechanisms that withstand judicial scrutiny. The Kedah government has historically maintained strict gambling controls as part of its administration's policy framework.