Quoting China Press, The Star reported that Justice Mahazan Mat Taib found the Kedah executive council’s decision on Dec 8, 2021, ultra vires the Federal Constitution.

She delivered her ruling on the civil suit brought by three gaming companies on June 20 while the state government filed an appeal against the decision three days later.

Mahazan also ordered the Kedah government, menteri besar, Alor Setar city council and the city’s mayor to compensate the plaintiffs over their losses from the ban.

Gaming outlets stopped operating in Kedah in 2023 following the state government’s decision not to renew the licences of such premises.

Menteri besar Sanusi Nor had announced an effective ban on 4D and gaming outlets throughout the state on Nov 14, 2021, ordering local councils not to renew their annual business licences.

A short reprieve was given later, with licences not to be renewed after Dec 31, 2022, as federal approvals for 4D shops were in effect until then.

At the time, the Kedah state assembly was told that there were 45 gaming outlets in the state.