Common policy not so ‘common’, says Khairy
(The Star) – The ban on the sale of lottery tickets by the PAS state government in Kelantan is an example of how Pakatan Rakyat’s so-called common policy framework is anything but common, said Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said the ban also proved that Pakatan would have different laws for different people and states if they ever came to power, they would “further fracture and fragment Malaysia.”
“Here, we are talking about the rights of non-Muslims.
“While we don’t encourage gambling, it is the right of non-Muslims to do so, including buying lottery tickets,” Khairy said here yesterday.
In December 2009, Pakatan introduced a common policy framework to strengthen solidarity among its partners and present a clear stand for its three component parties (PKR, DAP and PAS) on various issues.
Former MCA minister Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn said in a Twitter posting that the ban was “only the beginning of their (PAS’) repressive measures.”
“More will surely come! Sad,” he tweeted, referring to the ban.
Dr Fong, who is also Alor Gajah MP, stressed that although there were people who might not want to buy lottery tickets, they should not prevent others from wanting to try their luck.
“That is repression … It’s (the) first step to total control,” he said, adding that some DAP leaders had defended PAS’ move without realising that it was also affecting their rights as non-Muslims.
“(It is the) same rationale (where) all kopitiams with beer will be closed. And DAP will say drinking is bad for Chinese,” he added.
The reported ban on the sale of lottery tickets in Kelantan had also caused a stir online, with Netizens voicing their concerns over the issue.
“Leave it to the non-Malays or Muslims to decide what’s best for them on matters like this.
“There is nothing wrong in advising, but for goodness sake don’t act like a fanatic dictator,” said an anonymous reader in an online news portal.
Another reader, AC, said the decision to engage in legal gambling was an individual choice and nobody had any right to impose his own views on others.
