KUALA LUMPUR: PAS Youth members nationwide have begun stationing themselves in front of gambling outlets with the aim of distributing flyers objecting to the government’s decision to legalise the activity during the football World Cup next month.
The wing's national chief Nasaruddin Hassan At Tantawi said the campaign would be ongoing until Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak withdraws the gambling licences issued to Berjaya Corp Group.
“We will be carrying out our campaign in shifts. We have already mobilised our Youth wing and will be stationing ourselves in front of all the outlets in the country.
“We will continue to do so until the prime minister withdraws or cancels the permits issued for the World Cup,” he said.
PAS and its coalition partners in Pakatan Rakyat have been against the move to legitimise betting during the World Cup.
Since last week, PAS has held simultaneous rallies and demonstrations in Selangor, Perak, Penang, Terengganu and Negri Sembilan against Najib’s decision to legalise betting. This Friday, similar protests will be held in Kedah, Perlis, Pahang and Selangor.
The government’s move to cash in on the World Cup fever by sanctioning gambling has also come under fire from non-governmental organisations over the social implications of the decision.
But public outcry, however, seems to have had little effect against the probability of the government earning RM60 billion in taxes over the World Cup season.
Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek had reportedly said the government would like to benefit financially by licensing sports betting.
“There will be many bookies placing bets on the matches anyway. Those who want to do it (gamble) will do it, whether it is legal or not,” he reportedly said.
“The government can benefit from it and use the revenue to develop sports.”
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