Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders have slammed a proposal to legalise sports betting, accusing the government of prioritising profit over social well-being.
The government confirmed yesterday that it was considering awarding a licence for sports betting ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup in June, in what is seen as a move to boost flagging revenues.
PR leaders said they had long anticipated this move and had started an anti-gambling task force to pressure the government against legalising the vice.
They contend that legalising sports betting would have a negative social impact.
DAP Socialist Youth chief Anthony Loke said rumours the government was mulling the move had reached him a while back and this was raised in Parliament at the March sitting.
No answer was given then, said Loke, who leads the pact’s anti-gambling task force.
“This move shows that the government works in secrecy. There was never any consultation with the public and I am sure that the public would have a different opinion on the issue,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin told reporters in Parliament yesterday that legal football betting was being considered to contain the expected spread of illegal betting activities during the World Cup.
However, PR leaders have viewed the move as a means to replenish drying state coffers.
“The government is very desperate to raise its revenue to bridge the wide deficit gap,” Loke remarked.
“But what they are doing is encouraging gambling in society, especially among the young. More people will get into gambling, which will spill into more social problems like the spurring of loan sharks. It will tear apart the social fabric,” he added.
PAS central working committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the Barisan Nasional (BN) government had compromised its own morality by agreeing to legalise sports betting.
“I question what is in the conscience of (Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Najib (Razak) and especially all the muftis who are backing the BN government.
“In one breath, he is portraying this virtuous image, but on the other, he is allowing what then-premier Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had to put on hold,” said Dzulkefly, who sits on the task force on behalf of PAS.
Najib has been tapping gaming companies to boost revenue for the government since before he became prime minister in April last year.
A month after Najib assumed the Finance Ministry portfolio in September 2008, the government stealthily awarded an additional 10 special draws a year to three gaming companies, in a move to boost flagging government revenues ahead of the economic slowdown.
The number forecast operators involved were Magnum, Tanjong and Tan Sri Vincent Tan’s Berjaya Sports Toto.
The Kuala Selangor MP said Najib risks staining the image of his own Umno party, which supposedly thrives on the “religion, race and country” motto, saying the new policy would “throw all that out the window”.
“It does not even meet the minimal aspects of morality let alone Islamic values,” said the PAS leader.
Dear rakyat of Malaysia, we have to take umbrage to any public policy issue that legalizes sports betting. As discussed in the MI report, those who espouse the legalization of sports better rest the bulk of their case on the economic benefits the state can experience.
Some may even have the cheek to assert that such a move is good as it can negatively impact illegal gambling. The ones who oppose legalization of sports betting such as amateur and professional sports leagues, the horse race industry, and legal bookmakers can attest to the fact that sports wagering is not very profitable and can be very risky for the operator.
Another point of consideration is that legal wagering will be unable to compete effectively with the price of illegal operations. If so, legalized sports betting can only entice more into the sin of gambling!!!
Does it make sense then to enact a law to legalize sports betting? If we want our citizens to live on a higher moral ground, will such a move put us in good stead to face the challenges in this world and to steer away from temptation? Any moralistic argument against gambling hold no sway if our government broadly legitimizes sports betting! Put simply, what is the point of promoting religion and moral behavior if the authorities fan the popularity and sin of the sport rests by legitimizing citizens' ability to bet all because they hope to raise revenue?
What is wrong with them? Is it always ringgit over rakyat????
Is the country so poor that we have to raise revenue via the regressive GST that penalizes the poor and via legalized sports betting that tears apart the already delicate moral fabric of society because of the shortage of moral leaders who lead exemplary lifestyles?
Consider the following arguments against sports betting.
1. Any form of gambling, including sports betting, is morally wrong because it goes against human nature and nobility. Any gambler would be violating his or her conscience if he or she succumbs to greed. Gambling promotes greed. Period.
The goal of any form of gambling is to get lots of money quickly! Those in this industry have the means to accomplish their goal effectively because gambling is a lucrative business.
2. The tendency to indulge in gambling becomes an irrational act to maximize chance against reason. Imagine what it can do to youth, the main group that indulges in sports betting. Sports betting also destroys the will, since intentionally maximizing risk "is the will to have no will."
3. Any legalization of sports betting or gambling of any nature would almost certainly lead to an increase in the number of people who lose money. Does it make sense that people lose money so that others earn money????
4. Any pro-gambling legalization can accent tension that comes when one exercises free choice in such a way that may lead to harm either to the individual or to society. Consistent with this stance, the pro-gambling forces would like government to enact policies that promote "greater freedom" for mature adults, but adds "tighter controls on the freedoms" of children and "vulnerable consumers."
5. Any government has to moral responsibility should respect the individual's right to behave as he or she wishes without affecting others.
6. How come the government suddenly regards gambling as a socially acceptable habit all in the name of containing "the expected spread of illegal betting activities during the World Cup"?
7. Who are the ones who will earn profits from such a law? Magnum, Tanjong and Tan Sri Vincent Tan’s Berjaya Sports Toto and others? How will it fill the government's coffers?
8. If the government wants to increase revenue, it can do so via legitimate channels such as progressive taxes which should encourage responsible citizenship. It should not legitimize sports betting or any form of gambling for moral and religious reasons!
There are far too many considerations against the legalization of sports betting to be listed here. At the end of the day, we have to ask ourselves why there are so many leakages in our country's expenditure and yet, instead of arresting this trend, some prefer to tax the people unnecessarily instead of plugging these leaks.
Is there no end to such mindless pursuits?
Say 'NO' to legalized sports betting.
Please voice your opinion/thoughts/view on this issue by leaving a comment. Thanks! Have a nice day!
Kampung Girl Legal football betting was being considered to contain the expected spread of illegal betting activities during the World Cup.
The best reason one could ever think of!!!!!
Hidup BN government!