YOURSAY | 'Since gambling is haram, taxes from it shouldn't go to everyone.'

FT PAS objects to gambling sector being re-opened

Newday: PAS, PAS, PAS - federally we are not solely governed by you, neither is the entire country under syariah law. We are also not solely a Muslim country. It’s best you remind yourself constantly of this.

Gambling is something that I do not personally support, but I will never impose my views on others who do.

Contrary to what you state, gambling does bring benefits in terms of sorely-needed tax revenue.

Jobs are created through casinos and 4-digits (4D) outlets. Their staff number in the thousands. Most of these staff have had a very tough time due to Covid-19 restrictions.

You have already had your way with nightclubs and bars, which are still not allowed to open, even though it is illogical not to do so. It is a terrible reminder for all of us, who believe in freedom, that your influence is to this extent.

Gambling addiction is terrible, but is only an issue for a small group of people who indulge in it. You cannot tar everyone with the same brush.

Protesting and objecting to the corruption and religious hypocrisy would be far more effective.

Root out child abuse inflicted in religious schools, look to the issues of drug addiction within the Muslim community, as well as general health issues - kidney disease and diabetes Type 2 are a bigger scourge than any impact that gambling may have.

Most of all, stay out of the business of non-Muslims.

Flyingeagle: Federal Territories PAS commissioner Azhar Yahya, you are wrong to say that the opening of gambling outlets does not benefit the government.

Have you done your research? It provides employment and taxes that pay for the salaries and allowances of civil servants, including ministers, MPs and assemblypersons.

Yes, I agree with you that there are "dirty" gamblers who don’t care much about their families, but these people need to be reprimanded.

Azhar, it looks like you are very concerned about the well-being of the country and the welfare of its people, so why don’t you make police reports against corruption and money laundering, which are happening in our midst. They need to be eradicated.

JustMe: Azhar, if you wish to ban gambling and probably eventually alcohol, then how is the government going to pay the fat salaries of your inflated cabinet buddies?

So, please use whatever you have in your head to think before you say anything, or is it just cheap publicity that you crave to try to make yourself relevant?

If you are so against gambling, you should have the integrity not to accept any salary that is considered derived from haram sources. 

I guess you should lobby the government to keep two separate revenue accounts (haram money and "clean" money), then and only then, you may earn some respect from most of us.

FairMalaysian: It is better for PAS to refrain from commenting on issues that affect the non-Muslims, as the general perception is that PAS is far removed from reality.

There are enough NGOs that consider the well-being of people, those who do not indulge in religion and politics. Perhaps they can comment on this.

Dianakhc: Many people, when they do not have the legal revenue to gamble, will resort to doing it illegally, and in the end, the government will lose out as it will not able to collect tax from it.

A lot of the non-essential sectors are hurt, really bad, from not being able to operate since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Many are doing unlicensed business on the side and risk getting caught.

But all these side businesses, other than not generating revenue for the government through tax collection, also raise the chances of the pandemic getting worse as they are not being regulated by the authority through proper implementation of the standard operating procedure (SOP).

Coward: No problem. Let's ban alcohol, gambling and cigarettes altogether. They are all bad, but we need to agree that the government needs to replace the tax revenue from them somehow, so income tax will have to be collected from more people.

Before that, let's have a trial run. I suggest Azhar’s constituency as the pioneer.

Although I will prefer him to take the moral high ground and reject all federal allocations that come from the source without replacement. But let's admit it, his constituents are entitled to the money.

So, let's replace the federal allocations with the expected (lower) tax money from the allocation that will come projected from a substitute income source.

Iphonezours: PAS can comment or object to gambling/4D draws but, in reality, these activities are regulated and legally permitted for non-Muslims, which the government collects taxes from and use for the nation’s development.

PAS makes so much noise on alcohol, gambling, homosexuality, women’s attire and even belittles other people’s beliefs, but as usual, it will always keep quiet on this nation’s corruption, mismanagement of country’s wealth, child marriage, low standards of education, etc.

This clearly shows the hypocrisy of PAS and its ideology is never compatible with multiracial and multireligious Malaysia.

IndigoKite6964: In my view, corruption is more destructive than gambling, alcohol and the sex trade all put together. Yet, PAS is very quiet about corruption.

Nonetheless, I suppose they need to prove to the PAS base that they are really holy and doing their Islamic policing job.

However, they can only lead PAS Muslims and not all the citizens of Malaysia. PAS can never and should never be allowed to rule and Azhar is the proof of this.

I don't subscribe to gambling but that doesn't mean others cannot. So, I suggest we vote PAS and any party associated with PAS out in the next general election. I just can't stomach their hypocrisy.

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