Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s aide and the Finance Ministry have handed Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi Nor a dose of his own medicine, recalling how the Perikatan Nasional government once gave 4D punters a shot in the arm.
Without mincing words, senior press secretary Tunku Nashrul Abaidah accused the PAS leader of displaying a “two-faced and holier-than-thou attitude on this issue”, saying it clearly reflected his political hypocrisy.
“The reality is that when PAS was part of the PN government, the administration increased the number of special draws for gambling from eight to 22 times a year.
“In contrast, it was Anwar, whom Sanusi has now insulted, in his capacity as prime minister and finance minister, who reduced the number back to eight times a year,” he added in a statement issued in his capacity as Kedah PKR’s state leadership council communications director.
Nashrul said Sanusi’s (above, right) attempt to confuse the public by dragging in those who had nothing to do with the matter to cover up his shortcomings was shameful.
“Stop moving the goalposts. Answer based on facts and stop making the prime minister your target,” he added.
The ministry later issued a statement that likewise panned PN for approving the 22 special draws, while noting that this was reversed when Anwar came to power.
The 22 special draws under the PN government were approved by then finance minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who is now a key confidant of Anwar’s.
Nashrul was commenting on Sanusi’s warning that Kedahans would “curse” (celakakan) Anwar if he allowed gambling activities to resume in the state.
‘Quit playing games’
Sanusi also courted flak from DAP lawmaker Ramkarpal Singh after sarcastically inviting the Bukit Gelugor MP to give a ceramah to Muslims on the ills of gambling.
Urging him to “quit playing games”, Ramkarpal said the menteri besar had access to the entire machinery of the state government to educate the public about the dangers of gambling and tighten enforcement measures.
“If Sanusi believes there is a serious problem of gambling in Kedah, he should tell the public what his government has done about it instead of asking a DAP MP to do his job for him,” he added in a statement.
Ramkarpal stressed that, whether Sanusi liked it or not, he needed to accept the Federal Court’s decision to uphold a majority Court of Appeal ruling that found Kedah’s policy of refusing to renew gambling-related business licences unconstitutional for encroaching on federal powers.
The decision ended the Kedah government’s legal bid to enforce a blanket ban on gambling and lottery outlets in the state.
Ramkarpal said Sanusi’s statement that the “ball is in the finance minister’s court” confirmed his acknowledgement that the regulation and licensing of such gambling activities fell within the federal sphere, which was precisely what the court had decided.
“Having acknowledged that the matter comes under federal purview, he cannot now find ways to circumvent that federal power.
“Sanusi should respect the courts, as it is not his business to question the wisdom of its judgments, particularly when those judgments are final. Going against such final judgments may amount to contempt of court,” he added. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.