Statement by PAS secretary-general on the plan to ban gambling activities by the Kelantan state government.
We refer to the action taken by the Kelantan state government against premises running gambling activities and the reactions from DAP chairman Karpal Singh and others.
I would like to inform that it has always been the state government’s policy for the past 20 years to oppose any form of gambling.
This issue must be seen in its entirety and against a backdrop of the gambling scourge which goes beyond Muslim, non-Muslim, Malay or non-Malay communities.
Gambling's negative impact on society is public knowledge and as such it is reviled by all religions as its goes against family, society and country.
As the issue has to do with principle and policy, we plan to bring this matter to the top Pakatan Rakyat leadership for a serious discussion to find an amicable solution.
We are aware of UMNO and BN's eagerness to legalise gambling by having the Federal government issue gambling licences.
We hope Pakatan Rakyat will take a serious and different approach.
Mustafa Ali
PAS Secretary-General,
6 March 2011
