Gutsy ministers break rank on sports betting controversy
(Free Malaysia Today) – Two ministers in the Sarawak BN administration broke rank today by openly criticising the government’s decision to legalise sports betting.
Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office Fatimah Abdullah said gambling should be discouraged.
“Gambling is gambling, in whatever form, and it should not be encouraged,” she said in reference to the license issued to Ascot Sports, a company in Berjaya Corporation Group.
Despite nationwide protests calling for the government to revoke the license issued to Ascot Sports’ Vincent Tan, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has remained silent.
It is a known fact that the staggering RM362 billion national debt had pushed the goverment to seek ways to reduce this.
Legalising sports betting during the World Cup season which starts on June 11 is expected to generate RM60billion in taxes for the country.
Fatimah, who was firm on the issue was candid when she said: “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
To date she is the first women minister to openly state her stand.
Yesterday, PKR women’s wing challenged Women, Family and Community Development Minister Sharizat Abdul Jalil to declare her stand on the move to legalise betting in the country.
