PAS needs to sober up, face Keluarga Malaysia reality

 

After a sobering resolution to the Timah whisky controversy, we are immediately faced with another divisive debate involving a practice that is forbidden to Muslims.

The PAS-led Kedah government’s decision to effectively ban the operations of all 4-D outlets in the state has brought much anger and a public debate which is not healthy for a multi-religious country, especially when the prime minister is pushing for a united Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family).

I am not one who will promote gambling or alcohol consumption as a national or a community culture because I have seen many families being torn apart and marriages broken because of these habits. But let’s not stereotype behaviour and habits according to race or religion.

In its battle to “clean” the nation, maybe PAS should also include the devastating effect that drug abuse has on Malaysian youth and the rate of corruption that has caused Malaysia to feature in the global headlines.

Having said that, can PAS provide the statistics to show that the gambling problem has gone beyond control in Malaysia? For every gambler or drinker that anyone can point out, I will show 10 teetotallers and those who abhor gambling.

Let me be clear here that defending one’s basic right to do something according to the law is not tantamount to condoning any form of addiction.

We must defend the right of an individual to carry out legal activities with all the legislated controls in place. Everyone knows Islam forbids these practices and the relevant laws are firmly in place to ensure Muslims stay clear of activities that are “haram”.

I don’t see why any authority, which survives on revenues from gaming and entertainment taxes, wants to stop a business which is licensed by the federal government.

It’s funny that Kedah chooses to ban a business which openly bars Muslims. I was told once that the true test of a Muslim is to live among others in a society and stay away from practices that are not allowed by Islam.

Tens of thousands of people are engaged by the gaming companies, keeping a large number of Malaysians gainfully employed. The money they earn is from hard work, and not something that comes easy. What they get are not like the handouts that many survive on.

It would be naïve to think that Kedah’s action will stop people from gambling in one form or another. It is an open secret that the illegal four-digit lottery is thriving online and that Malaysians indulge in these activities, even lottery draws in Singapore and Cambodia.

Legalisation of gambling will not only help to reduce black money transactions but it will also generate a good amount of revenue for the federal coffers. Once gambling is banned, the money earned from gambling activities is managed by the criminal syndicates which may also end in financing of terrorist activities.

I agree with PAS that the states it rules, like Terengganu and Kelantan, do not have legalised gambling but I am not sure if there are those in the state who do not do so online, which is quite widespread.

I have also been told reliably that Genting is the top taxpayer among the private companies in the country. I stand to be corrected here. And most of its income is from the casino up there.

This “sin tax” is also used for national development and for paying the salaries of MPs and ministers, irrespective of their religious background.

No matter where you stand in the debate there’s no denying that legal or not, gambling would still find a way into people’s lives.

Let not the secularism in Keluarga Malaysia be destroyed by the coalition that is promoting it aggressively. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.