Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has quashed rumors that the country will soon be getting a second casino, saying that they are “not true” and are “a lie.” Bloomberg reported on Thursday that the government is looking at turning part of an underperforming real estate project on reclaimed islands near the border of Singapore into a casino resort.
prime minister reportedly met recently with two of the country’s most successful business leaders
The prime minister reportedly met recently with two of the country’s most successful business leaders, Berjaya Group founder Vincent Tan and Genting Group CEO and Chairman Lim Kok Thay to discuss the idea. Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, who has a 20% stake in the development project, was also said to be present.
Bloomberg cited unnamed sources close to the matter who confirmed the possible Forest City casino and mentioned that the prime minister proclaimed that the state of Johor could turn into the country’s most developed region in the future.
The nation’s sole casino is Resorts World Genting, which is located just outside of Kuala Lumpur. The property contributes significant tax revenue each year and the government is currently dealing with a significant budget deficit, so another casino would go a long way to easing the situation.