DAP MP's 'simple question' to PAS: If you objected to 22 lottery draws, why stay in govt?

 

DAP lawmaker RSN Rayer has posed a series of what he called “simple questions” to PAS over the increase in special lottery draws to 22 times a year under the previous Perikatan Nasional government.

The Jelutong MP’s questions were prompted by PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan’s account that the proposal to increase the draws was never brought to the cabinet by then finance minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, and that PAS only objected after discovering that the decision had already been made.

Assuming that account to be true, Rayer’s foremost “simple question” was: “Why did PAS not quit the government immediately thereafter?”

“PAS cannot now portray itself as a helpless and powerless bystander while simultaneously claiming to have been part of a government whose policy it supposedly regarded as unacceptable.

“If the increase in special lottery draws was genuinely contrary to PAS’ principles, why did PAS remain in government after discovering that the decision had been implemented?” he told Malaysiakini.

The 72nd PAS muktamar in Kota Bharu on Sept 5

Rayer then followed up with three more “simple questions”: Why did PAS not demand that the decision be immediately revoked? Why did PAS not insist that the prime minister intervene? And why did PAS not publicly announce that it could no longer remain in a government which had allegedly expanded gambling opportunities without cabinet approval?

The DAP MP also wondered whether PAS’ decision to remain in government after the implementation of the 22 special draws could be construed as, “at the very least, political acquiescence if not tacit endorsement and approval of the policy?”

'Why complain after the fact?'

Rayer argued that Takiyuddin’s claim that PAS only voiced its objections after learning of the decision raised even more questions.

He noted that PAS was not in the opposition at the time, and its ministers were part of the government, with access to the prime minister, cabinet, and the machinery of government.

“If the policy was so objectionable, remaining in government while merely issuing an internal protest is hardly the same as taking political responsibility.

“Zafrul, meanwhile, has maintained that the restoration of the 22-draw ceiling during the Covid-19 period was a collective responsibility of the cabinet, including PAS ministers,” he noted.

Former finance minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz

Rayer said this left Malaysians with two fundamentally conflicting accounts.

“If Zafrul is right, PAS cannot escape collective cabinet responsibility. If Takiyuddin is right, PAS must explain why it continued supporting and participating in the government after discovering that a policy it allegedly opposed had been implemented without cabinet approval.

“Either way, PAS cannot now rewrite history and present itself as an innocent spectator,” he added.

Gambling 'curse'

The 22-draw figure was first thrust into the spotlight by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s senior press aide, Tunku Nashrul Abaidah, who cited it in response to Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi Nor’s warning to the prime minister.

Sanusi had said that Kedahans would “curse” Anwar, who is also finance minister, if he failed to help eradicate gambling from the state.

Nashrul also reminded the PAS leader that it was Anwar who reduced the number of special draws to eight.

Kedah’s bid to ban gambling outlets, however, ran into a legal roadblock after the Court of Appeal ruled that the regulation of gambling and lotteries falls exclusively under the Finance Ministry.

The Federal Court subsequently rejected leave for an appeal, leaving the state’s attempt to curb gambling legally dead in the water. - Mkini