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PETALING JAYA: Despite the PAS-backed Perikatan Nasional government quietly increasing the number of “special draws” for 4D numbers to 22 a year after Pakatan Harapan (PH) cut it down, the Islamist party says has not changed its position on the eradication game.
PAS central committee member Mohd Zuhdi Marsuki said the party’s position, based on its Wawasan Induk Negara Sejahtera (WINS) policy, was clear: that the gaming industry must be eradicated by 2025.
A report in Malaysiakini quoted him today as saying that PAS had always emphasized that gambling must be completely eradicated in Malaysia, but this took time because it involved licensed, illegal gambling and online activities.
“Licensed gambling houses like Genting Casino or number forecasting services like Sports Toto, Magnum and Da Ma Cai are easy to root out at the will of the government.
“However, unlicensed gambling and online gambling are different,” he said, adding that the PAS WINS team will submit its proposal to abolish all gambling to the federal government.
The matter was raised in Dewan Negara on December 28 by Senator Liew Chin Tong, who said that the 22 “special draws” were first introduced in 1999 to raise funds for victims of the Nipah virus.
Following this, PH management reduced the special draws to eight in 2018 and 11 in 2019, in addition to the three “normal draws” that are held weekly.
Liew had urged the government to end these “special giveaways” eventually.
It is understood that these “special draws” are not governed by an official bulletin. Instead, numerical betting companies only need a letter of authorization from the finance minister.
Commenting on this, Zuhdi alleged that Pakatan Harapan online activists were using the situation to cover up the fact that number betting companies can still cash out bets three times a week.
The report said that shortly after Liew’s disclosure, PAS leaders reacted quickly by noting that DAP, which Liew represents, did not intend to end the game entirely.
He said that PAS Youth Chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin had expressed concern about the increase in special draws and noted that this was intended to boost government revenue.
Khairil said that as an alternative, PAS Youth proposed that the government cooperate with companies linked to the government to bear the cost of fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
Unlike Zuhdi, Khairil said PAS Youth’s goal was to regulate and limit play.
“PAS Youth is seeking a meeting with the finance minister. We are ready to discuss the matter and find the best solution to increase government revenues while controlling and reducing gambling in the country, “he told the news portal.
Khairil also thanked Liew for raising the matter in Parliament.
“We are confident that DAP shares our aspiration to ensure Malaysia is free from gambling, which is haram in Islam. We urge DAP leaders and other parties to work with us to stop gambling, ”he said.
