By Rahmah Ghazali
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has a lot of explaining to do with regard to his statement that he is “considering” legalising sports betting in Malaysia, ahead of the World Cup finals in South Africa in June.
Pakatan Rakyat leaders have taken him to task over his statement in Hong Kong, with Rasah MP Anthony Loke Siew Fook accusing Najib of being “secretive” about the matter.
"Why is Najib so secretive about this? If it's indeed true that the government is considering to legalise it, doesn't he know the social impact it will have on the youth? I challenge him to explain this matter in Parliament once he gets back from Hong Kong," Loke said in Parliament today.
He added that social problems were already aggravated based on the existing illegal gambling surrounding other football games.
Machang MP Saifuddin Nasution Ismail questioned the government's move to even consider the matter and asked the prime minister whether there is any benchmark to legalise the activities.
"Is it solely for tax purposes? Don't they know the social impact behind it? Is this their move to reduce the deficit gap? The ball is now in Najib's court to answer this," he said.
According to Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS-Kuala Selangor), it would be a "desperate" move for the government if is legalising it to improve the country's source of income.
"In 2006, the revenue from gambling activities amounted to RM450 million and that did not even include the illegal gambling activities. The government must be desperate if it needs to legalise it to improve its source of income. This is taking away people's hard-earned money," he said.
He said Najib needs to get back to the people about handling issues like this.
"The prime minister has said that 'the government knows all' , now it is time for a national referendum whether the government actually intends to legalise these activities," he said.
Not in line with Islam Hadhari concept
The New StraitsTimes yesterday reported Najib as saying that the government had received proposals to legalise sports betting, but no decision has been made so far.
It also said that Berjaya group, a major Malaysian conglomerate with holdings ranging from lottery to casino operations, was seeking approval from the government to operate sports betting activities in the country. However, the company has "declined to comment on the matter at this point of time".
For Dzulkefly, the latest development indicates that Najib is abandoning the Islam Hadhari concept practised by its predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi since he took office in April 2008.
"I could keep harping on the issue on Islamic perspectives, but I would just like to say that all religions do not allow gambling activities," he said.
Saifuddin also said sports betting conducted by Berjaya Group, which is headed by tycoon Vincent Tan, had been operating successfully during the time of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, until Abdullah Ahmad Badawi revoked its permit once he took office in October 2003.
"And now Najib is following in (Mahathir's step) to legalise it (once again)," he said.
