PAS vice president Datuk Idris Ahmad has laid down a challenge for Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) – that they ban the operation of all gaming shops in states that they control.
The former religious affairs minister told the Government that his party will even help the PH- and BN-controlled states implement such a ban.
His remark came after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement that the Government will only allow eight “special draws” for 4D numbers annually.
In 2021, the government under then prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin allowed gaming companies to hold 22 “special draws” for 4D numbers, on top of the usual thrice-weekly draws.
In a statement, Idris noted that Anwar was attempting to boost support for his government from the Malay-Muslim community. He cited a report by a political analyst to support his argument.
“In an analysis published by Bridget Welsh, Perikatan Nasional (PN) won 54% of the Malay votes while PH only secured 11% of the Malay votes,” Idris pointed out.
On the prime minister’s claims that PN had received money from 4D operators – which PAS had decried as slanderous – Idris said it highlighted the profitability of the gaming outlets.
“The profits made by these gambling bosses are so high that they are [allegedly] able to sponsor political parties,” he remarked.
“It would be great if this issue was resolved with each PH-BN state following in the footsteps of PN states, which have banned the use of premises for gambling activities.”
PAS, which has been a staunch opponent of the gambling industry, had banned gambling in Kelantan and Terengganu when it ruled those states in the 1990s.
In the past, the Islamic party had urged Putrajaya to phase out the gambling industry as it violated Islamic tenets. – Dec 7, 2022
Main pic credit: Bernama
