By FMT Staff
KUALA LUMPUR: Isn’t it odd that in a country where caning of women is permissible, public policing is common and yoga exercise is banned, that the National Fatwa Council has yet to comment on the federal government-approved online gambling?It’s a question that many organisations, activists, opposition leaders and now the son of former deputy prime minister Abdul Ghafar Baba are posing.
Tamrin in an open letter to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom is asking if the government realises the extent of social damage it will cause with its decision to sanction betting during the upcoming World Cup.
“I want to know if they know what they are doing. Do they know that productivity will drop, families will break up and kids will become deviant?
“Muslims are asking, why is the National Fatwa Council silent on this issue (gambling) when it has opinions on other matters? Are they also like the mainstream media, waiting for unofficial directions before they dive into the issue?” he asked.
Damage to family unit
While urging the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Council of Rulers to force the federal government to rescind its decision, Tamrin said the decision to legalise betting will cause damage to the structure of both the family unit and society.
“Even without the betting, the World Cup season puts a strain on family relationships.
“Now the strain will be double fold with loss of income and debts. The family as a whole will suffer.
“And if there’s habitual gambling, the debt will increase and the Ah Longs (illegal money-lenders) will be back in the scene,” he said.
Tamrin, who has copied his letter to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin and the National Fatwa Council, is particularly concerned about the children.
“This bothers me the most... the accessibility of it all.
“Online gambling will encourage underage children to get involved without parental supervision, what more if their own parents are involved. The kids will end up stealing from their parents, if not borrowing from outside sources.
“In other words, it encourages theft and other immoral activities,” he said, adding that the decision to legalise betting during the World Cup season goes against all government efforts to develop a value-based society.”
Also read:
No World Cup betting outlets in S'gor
