YOURSAY | Special lottery draws: 'PAS-sing' the buck?

Special lottery draws have reignited criticism directed at PAS, with some accusing the party of passing the blame to Zafrul Abdul Aziz, the former finance minister. PAS leader Anwar Ibrahim suggested that Zafrul, while serving as finance minister, approved 22 special lottery draws. However, others argue that the decision was not a unilateral one, but rather a collective responsibility shared by PAS members in the ruling coalition.

Some critics claim that PAS' silence on the matter during their time in government is hypocritical, considering the party's strong stance against gambling expansion. They question why PAS didn't object to the 22 special draws when they had the power to do so and why they continued to benefit from the additional tax revenue generated by those draws.

Others still argue that PAS should have withdrawn from the ruling coalition if they truly opposed the expansion of gambling. They also suggest that PAS members who remained in government should face collective responsibility for their silence and complicity in the decision.

The debate around the special lottery draws and PAS' role in approving them highlights the broader issue of accountability within Malaysian politics. As Malaysians, it is essential for the public to demand transparency and clear responsibility from their elected representatives.