Ramkarpal Singh, the party’s national legal bureau chairman, said the bureau assisted in filing an action at the Alor Setar High Court today on behalf of Liew Han Eng and three others for judicial review of the decision taken by Kedah menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.

The Bukit Gelugor MP said the filing was supported by an affidavit of the plaintiffs, who are Alor Setar residents and have taken part in licenced gaming activities in the past.

“It will be contended by the plaintiffs, among others, that the decision of the Kedah state government to not renew gaming licences is ultra vires the Federal Constitution as the power to issue such licences is exclusively within the jurisdiction of Parliament,” said Ramkarpal.

“The plaintiffs will further contend that the decision of the menteri besar is unreasonable and liable to be quashed by the High Court upon an application for judicial review.”

He added that all cause papers would be served to the relevant parties, and he hoped to obtain an early date for the hearing for leave at the Alor Setar High Court.

On Sunday, Sanusi announced that the state would ban the operation of all gaming outlets in the state by not renewing the business licences issued by the local authorities.

Earlier today, Sanusi said he welcomed legal challenges over the state’s decision to effectively ban all gaming outlets from operating in the state.

Commenting on state DAP chief and assemblyman Tan Kok Yew’s plans to file for a judicial review, Sanusi said it was expected “as DAP had sided with the gambling premises”.

Previously, Muda’s Lim Wei Jiet, a lawyer, said the decision was unconstitutional because betting and lotteries were under the purview of the federal government.

Another lawyer, Syed Iskandar Syed Jaafar al-Mahdzar, had also said that Kedah’s decision not to renew the business licences of such outlets was unconstitutional as the PAS-led state government would be infringing on the legitimate livelihood of businessmen operating by way of licensing.