DAP MP challenges MCA, MIC on PAS gambling goal

DAP MP Chong Zhemin has challenged MCA president Wee Ka Siong and MIC president SA Vigneswaran to clarify whether their parties endorse PAS's goal of using federal power to eradicate gambling nationwide. Chong contends that the matter extends beyond gambling and involves safeguarding the interests of non-Muslim Malaysians. This follows PAS urging Muslim voters to elect the party to federal power to abolish gambling, in light of the Federal Court's denial of the Kedah government's attempt to overturn a ruling that prevented it from discontinuing licenses for pool betting and lottery operators.

Chong argued that, considering the electoral accord between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN), voting for BN essentially translates to supporting PAS's federal power. He emphasized that PAS cannot establish the federal government without BN's involvement, necessitating a BN-PN electoral pact and a government comprising Umno, MCA, and MIC.

Chong questioned why MCA and MIC fail to acknowledge that their voters are supporting BN "while claiming that a vote for BN has no connection to PAS." He stressed that Putrajaya must safeguard the constitutional rights of non-Muslims, pointing out that while PAS can respect the religious prohibition of gambling for Muslims, it cannot demand that such a prohibition be enforced through federal law on every Malaysian, irrespective of their religious beliefs.

Chong elaborated that imposing a nationwide prohibition on gambling would infringe upon the freedom of non-Muslims to engage in activities currently lawful and regulated under federal law, raising concerns about PAS's intention to utilize federal power to gradually impose religious and moral views on non-Muslim citizens.