Not to be outdone and out-shined by PAS, DAP is planning to move a motion in Parliament to ban sports betting. Earlier, PAS had also expressed its objection to the government’s decision to allow sports betting. PAS launched a signature campaign, handed over memorandum to the state mufti, pleaded for the sultans’ intervention, held demonstrations and a leaflet blitz not to mention the stationing of PAS members outside gambling outlets.

Next came the Pakatan Rakyat states which said that sports betting will not be allowed in their states and that no sports betting licence will be allowed. The Penang chief minister, a strong proponent of ‘Amar Makruf Nahi Mungkar’ referred to s.101(v) of the Local Government Act which apparently empowers the local council to deal with issues concerning the municipal’s safety health and convenience. Note the reasoning – municipal’s safety, health and convenience! What a codswallop!

What Pakatan Rakyat should do is to be honest and admit that its objection to sports betting is because the sports betting licence has been granted to Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd, a Vincent Tan company. To Pakatan Rakyat, Vincent Tan is a BN crony and a beneficiary of BN (and maybe one of BN’s benefactor).

If Pakatan Rakyat is so concerned for its citizens’ safety, health and convenience, then why not also ban gambling and betting totally? Why don’t they gazette and enforce the 1995 national fatwa on smoking? Why not ban the sale of alcohol and liquor from convenience and provision stores?

And oh yes, what about condoms? Yeah, that too ought to be banned. Perhaps Pakatan Rakyat state governments can also reveal the number of massage parlours, health centres and ‘pusat urutan traditional’ in their respective states and how many new licences have been issued and how many outlets have opened since taking over.

Maybe, Pakatan Rakyat’s state governments can also reveal the number of pubs and bars in their respective states and the how many new licences have been issued. Should not these establishments be closed down?

If Pakatan Rakyat states are so concerned about their citizens’ safety and health, why the half- measures of focusing only sports betting? Go the full Monty and ban all other activities which can affect the safety, health and convenience of the citizens.

When all these ‘vice’ activities are still available, Pakatan Rakyat and Pakatan Rakyat states focus only on banning sports betting. What hypocrisy and what hypocrites.

What is worse is that DAP puts on the worst grandstanding crusade simply to pander to PAS and Malay voters. A political brinkmanship against the federal government and Barisan Nasional.

Now that DAP is a strong proponent of ‘Amal Makruf Nahi Mungkar’ and also is deeply concerned for the well-being of its citizens ‘safety, health and convenience’ surely DAP should not object if the federal government or for the matter their fellow partners PAS and PKR were to propose the banning of gambling outlets and other ‘vice’ activities.

Sheeesh...

Note: Lest I be accused to be a proponent for gambling and vice, let it be known that I am not a gambler and agree that the number of draws be reduced.