By Athi ShankarBUTTERWORTH: Penang opposition leader Azhar Ibrahim has accused the Pakatan Rakyat state government of being a “hypocrite” over its ban on sports betting.
He said if Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was honest about wanting to ban gambling, then he should come down hard on all such activities in the state.
He added that while the state government has banned sports betting, other forms of gambling and vice continue to thrive in Penang.
“Why has the state government not banned Sports Toto, Magnum and Big Sweep? This is sheer hypocrisy,” he told FMT today.
Penang banned sport betting outlets following the federal government's decision in May to grant a sports betting licence to Ascot Sports, a company linked to influential tycoon Vincent Tan.
521 new licences for entertainment outlets
Meanwhile, Azhar said he once mentioned in the state assembly that Penang has become the country’s hub for vice activities.
Last year alone, he added, the state authorities issued 521 operational licences for new entertainment outlets.
Azhar claimed that these outlets encouraged vice activities, and this was evident when the police or other enforcement agencies conducted their checks.
“Many China and Indonesian dolls are detained in these raids. Drug processing laboratories are frequently uncovered and Penang also has gay clubs,” he said.
The opposition leader and Penaga assemblyman also took a swipe at the Persatuan Ulama Pulau Pinang, which called on Pakatan state governments to ban gambling.
Azhar, who is against gambling himself, asked why the association only raised this issue but remained silent on the new entertainment outlets which have mushroomed in the state.
“Gambling is bad. All religions prohibit it. But why just pick on this? If the ulama are serious about preaching religious values, they should call for a ban on all vices,” said the Penang Umno secretary.
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