Activist: Use 'special draw' income for Orang Asli development instead

 

Since PAS MPs are so worried about the proposal to increase the number of "special draws" for betting companies to 22 a year, the funds should be maintained but used only for the Orang Asli and other minorities, an activist said today.

Jaringan Kg Orang Asli Pahang (JKOAP) coordinator Shafie Dris was responding to Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari who urged the government to find alternative sources of income via any means necessary and cancel the proposal.

"There is no need to cancel this proposal. My suggestion is that we should use these funds for non-Muslims.

"I would like to propose that the tax revenue be channelled to a fund to improve the lives of the Orang Asli in the interior. To develop schools and improve infrastructure," Shafie told Malaysiakini.

He said such an idea was relevant given that most Orang Asli villages are far from schools and there are many bad roads in the interior.

Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari

Yesterday, Ahmad had said the increase would not bring any benefit to the people.

"Do whatever it takes to find new sources of income but I appeal for the government to cancel the increase as it does not give out a good signal.

"Just how much money can be earned from this increase for us to absorb into the consolidated funds that at the end of the day will not bring good blessings to our national expenditure.

"I appeal for the government to announce a reduction, cancel the increase in the number of draws so that, ultimately, we will not invite the wrath of Allah SWT," Fadhli said in debating the Temporary Measures for Government Financing (Coronavirus Disease 2019 [Covid-19]) (Amendment) Bill 2021 in Parliament yesterday.

Earlier in the year, the same MP had objected to the reopening of casinos in Genting saying that he feared it will only trigger other social problems and is not worth the tax that the government has successfully collected. 

"Seen from the Islamic point of view, it is a great sin that is hated even in all the major religions in the world as well - gambling is considered an immoral act," he said in February. - Mkini