Sarawak not just for Muslims, PAS told

Sarawak not just for Muslims, PAS told


Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said development plans for the Borneo Highlands were not limited to a casino alone.

Commenting on objections by PAS to the proposed casino component of the project, Karim (above) said the integrated resort will include an amusement park and golf course.

"A casino may be part of it," he said, according to Malay Mail.

He questioned why PAS only opposed the casino when there are other gambling outlets such as 4D number betting in the state.

"These are also haram for the Muslims. But when the casino was mooted, everybody gets excited without realising that casino is not the only thing to be set up at the Borneo Highlands resort.

"But there is nothing (wrong) to set up the casino because Sarawak is not just for the Muslims," he said.

Final plans on the components of the integrated resort, added Karim, lie with Premier Abang Johari Openg.

Details of the new Borneo Highlands resort are limited at the moment but at least two Sarawak cabinet ministers - Karim and Roland Sanggah - have publicly stated that they will not rule out a casino.

In 1994, the Sarawak government alienated 2,071ha of land in the Borneo Highlands for the purpose of a holiday resort to be developed by Borneo Heights Sdn Bhd.

When the project was not fully realised, the state government forced the company to forfeit the land.

After a lengthy court battle, the Sarawak government claimed back control on March 7.