Selangor mufti: No compromise on gambling
(Free Malaysia Today) – Selangor mufti Sahibus Samahn Mohd Tamyes has issued an edict that Muslims who approved gambling were committing a crime against religion and their peers.
He said there was no logic or plausible reason to allow widespread gambling because all quarters agree that gambling brought decay, even if the profits from the vice was used for charity.
Sahibus was commenting on Berjaya Corporation Group (BCG) tycoon Vincent Tan’s announcement that he will be donating RM525 million from the sale of his personal stake in Ascot Sports, the company awarded the sports betting license.
Tan’s announcement on Saturday came in the wake of immense public pressure on the federal government to revoke the license.
“There can be no compromise. Gambling is wrong and a crime against religion and other Muslims. There is no redemption even if the profits from gambling is used for development,” said Tamyes.
“They should not have legalised gambling. Muslims must reject altogether the move.”
In his press conference on Saturday, tycoon Tan had also urged the Selangor and Penang state governments to rescind their decisions to ban sports betting in their respective states.
Both Penang and Selangor have invoked state laws to ban betting.
